Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Elizabeth I: The Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Her reign, known as the Elizabethan era, is noted for the establishment of Protestantism in England, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a flourishing of English drama and poetry.

Usage

• Proper noun:
  • Elizabeth I is often called the "Virgin Queen" because she never married.
  • The reign of Elizabeth I was a golden age for English literature and exploration.
  • Historians study the political strategies of Elizabeth I.

Advanced Usage

• "The Elizabethan era": Refers to the period of English history associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, characterized by a renaissance in English literature and global exploration.
  • Shakespeare wrote his greatest plays during the Elizabethan era.
• "The Elizabethan Settlement": Refers to the religious laws established early in Elizabeth I's reign that shaped the Church of England.
  • The Elizabethan Settlement aimed to create a moderate Protestant church.

Variants and Related Words

• Elizabethan (adj): Of, relating to, or characteristic of the reign of Elizabeth I.
  • Elizabethan theatre was immensely popular.
• The Virgin Queen: A common epithet for Elizabeth I.
  • Gloriana was another poetic name for the Virgin Queen.

Synonyms

• The Virgin Queen: A synonym emphasizing her unmarried status.
• Gloriana: A poetic name used to glorify Elizabeth I.
• Good Queen Bess: An affectionate, informal name for the queen.

Related Phrases

• "The cult of Elizabeth": Refers to the elaborate system of artistic and literary praise that developed around the queen's image.
  • Portraits were a key part of the cult of Elizabeth.

Related Idioms

• "To have an Elizabethan moment": (Modern, informal) To experience a period of great cultural flourishing or personal success, alluding to the Elizabethan era.
  • With three hit plays this season, the playwright is having an Elizabethan moment.

Noun

1. Queen of England from 1558 to 1603; daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn; she succeeded Mary I (who was a Catholic) and restored Protestantism to England; during her reign Mary Queen of Scots was executed and the Spanish Armada was defeated; her reign was marked by prosperity and literary genius (1533-1603)