Hamlet
ˈhæmlɪt
Definitions
2 meaningsA small village or a cluster of houses in a rural area, typically smaller than a village.
ˈhæmlɪt
A small village.
The old road led through a series of small hamlets.
💡 Simply: Imagine a tiny town with just a few houses, maybe a general store, and everyone knows everyone else. That's a hamlet! Like, if you’re driving through the countryside and see a few houses, you've probably found a hamlet.
👶 For kids: A hamlet is like a really, really small town where only a few people live.
More Examples
The artist retreated to a quiet hamlet to paint.
We visited several picturesque hamlets during our tour of the countryside.
How It's Used
"The hamlet is nestled in a secluded valley."
The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, a play by William Shakespeare.
ˈhæmlɪt
A play by Shakespeare.
Hamlet is considered one of Shakespeare's greatest works.
💡 Simply: Remember that super famous play about a prince who's all, 'To be or not to be?' That's Hamlet!
👶 For kids: Hamlet is the name of a very important story written a long, long time ago.
More Examples
She is studying Hamlet for her English class.
The famous line 'To be or not to be' comes from Hamlet.
How It's Used
"Shakespeare's Hamlet is a cornerstone of English literature."
From Middle English *hamlet*, a diminutive of *ham* (home, village), reflecting a small settlement or village. The meaning as a play by Shakespeare dates from the early 17th century.
The word's usage as a small village pre-dates its association with Shakespeare's play.
Memory tip
Think of 'ham' as a cozy home, and '-let' as a small version. A hamlet is a small cozy home, or a small village.
Word Origin
"small home/village"