Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Edward Young: An English poet who lived from 1683 to 1765. He is best known for his long, didactic poem "Night-Thoughts" (full title: "The Complaint: or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality").

Usage

• Proper noun:
  • Edward Young is a significant figure in 18th-century English literature.
  • The melancholic themes in Edward Young's "Night-Thoughts" were influential in Europe.

Advanced Usage

• "The Youngian style": Sometimes used to refer to the solemn, meditative, and moralizing tone characteristic of Edward Young's poetry, particularly "Night-Thoughts."
  • The poem's contemplative despair has a distinctly Youngian quality.

Variants and Related Words

• Youngian (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of Edward Young or his works.
  • Scholars discuss the Youngian influence on the Graveyard Poets.

Synonyms

• Poet of Night-Thoughts: A descriptive synonym referencing his major work.
• The Bard of Welwyn: A less common epithet, referring to his residence in Welwyn, Hertfordshire.

Related Phrases

• "Night-Thoughts": The title of Edward Young's most famous poetic work, often used metonymically to refer to his literary contribution.
  • The popularity of "Night-Thoughts" secured Edward Young's literary reputation.

Noun

1. English poet (1683-1765)