Shakespeare Words

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Dawn

Popularized in Henry V

That beats upon the high shore of this world.
No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony,
Not all these, laid in bed majestical,
Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave,
Who, with a body filled and vacant mind,
Gets him to rest, crammed with distressful bread;
Never sees horrid night, the child of hell,
But, like a lackey, from the rise to set
Sweats in the eye of Phoebus, and all night
Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn,
Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse,
And follows so the ever-running year


The Old English word dagian eventually became day, so we can see how dawn isn't that far off. Dawn was originally used as a verb, but Shakespeare went ahead and turned in into a noun—like he loved to do.


Tag: Henry V

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