glaspell: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Proper Noun)Formal / Academic
Quick answer
What does “glaspell” mean?
A proper noun, primarily a surname, most famously associated with the American playwright and novelist Susan Glaspell (1876-1948).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun, primarily a surname, most famously associated with the American playwright and novelist Susan Glaspell (1876-1948).
Used to refer to the works, style, or literary legacy of Susan Glaspell, a key figure in early 20th-century American drama and the Provincetown Players. In rare contexts, may refer to other individuals with the surname.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant linguistic differences. Recognition is likely higher in American academic/literary contexts due to Glaspell's role in American theatre history.
Connotations
Connotes American literary modernism, feminist literature, early 20th-century theatre (especially one-act plays like 'Trifles'), and the Provincetown Players.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse. Frequency is near-zero in everyday conversation but appears in specialized literary, theatrical, and American studies contexts, slightly more so in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “glaspell” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] as subject (e.g., Glaspell co-founded...)[Proper Noun] as possessive (e.g., Glaspell's 'Trifles')Attributive use (e.g., a Glaspell play)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glaspell” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literature, theatre history, American studies, and gender studies courses. (e.g., 'This paper analyses feminist critique in Glaspell's plays.')
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered.
Technical
Used as a specific referent in literary criticism and historical analysis of American drama.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “glaspell”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “glaspell”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glaspell”
- Mis-spelling as 'Glasspell' or 'Glaspel'.
- Treating it as a common noun with a general meaning.
- Mispronouncing the final 'ell' as 'ul' (should be /əl/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a standard English lexical word. It is a proper noun—a surname of a significant American author.
She is best known as a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and novelist, a founder of the Provincetown Players, and for her classic one-act play 'Trifles', which explores themes of gender and justice.
It is pronounced /ˈɡlæspəl/, with the stress on the first syllable, rhyming with 'glass' and then 'pell' as in 'compel'.
No. It is exclusively a proper noun (name). In rare, informal academic jargon, it might be used attributively (e.g., 'Glaspellian themes'), but this is non-standard.
A proper noun, primarily a surname, most famously associated with the American playwright and novelist Susan Glaspell (1876-1948).
Glaspell is usually formal / academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GLASS' + 'SPELL'. Susan Glaspell cast a 'spell' on audiences with her sharp, revealing plays that held a mirror up to society (like 'glass').
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (Proper Noun). Conceptually, her name can metaphorically represent early feminist literary voice or American theatrical innovation.
Practice
Quiz
Susan Glaspell is most closely associated with which literary/theatrical movement?