Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A period in British history: The "Elizabethan Age" refers specifically to the historical era in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, which lasted from 1558 to 1603. It is characterized as a time of significant cultural, literary, and political development, as well as increased national confidence and domestic prosperity.

Usage and Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The plays of William Shakespeare are the most famous literary works from the Elizabethan Age.
  • Exploration and maritime expansion were hallmarks of the Elizabethan Age.
  • Historians study the Elizabethan Age to understand the roots of the English Renaissance.

Advanced Usage

• "the Elizabethan Age" vs. "the Elizabethan era": These terms are often used interchangeably to refer to the same historical period. "Age" can sometimes carry a connotation of a distinctive, celebrated epoch.
  • The music of the Elizabethan Age reflects the period's artistic vibrancy.

Variants and Related Words

• Elizabethan (adj): Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Elizabethan Age.
  • Elizabethan drama, Elizabethan costume.
• Elizabethan (n): A person, especially a writer, who lived during the Elizabethan Age.
  • Christopher Marlowe was a famous Elizabethan.

Synonyms

• The Elizabethan era: The period of time during Elizabeth I's rule.
• The English Renaissance: A broader cultural and artistic movement in England, largely coinciding with the Elizabethan and early Stuart periods.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Golden Age: A period of great peace, prosperity, and happiness. The Elizabethan Age is often described as a golden age in English history.
  • The Elizabethan Age is frequently considered a golden age of English literature.
• The Virgin Queen: A nickname for Queen Elizabeth I, whose reign defines the age.
  • The Elizabethan Age is synonymous with the rule of the Virgin Queen.

Noun

1. a period in British history during the reign of Elizabeth I in the 16th century; an age marked by literary achievement and domestic prosperity