Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

comedy of errors

/ˌkɑmədi əv ˈɛɹəɹz/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.06 in modern English

Syllables: com-e-dy of err-ors
IPA: /ˌkɑmədi əv ˈɛɹəɹz/

25

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A comedy in which the humour is due to misinterpretations, mistaken identity, etc.

noun

A series of amusing or farcical events involving awkward missteps or other mistakes.

Example Sentences

"[I]n ſome comedyes of Errors, […] the Miſtres and the Maide change habits […]"
"VVhat Comedies''' of errors ſvvell the ſtage / VVith your moſt publike vices, vvhen the age / Dares perſonate in action, for, your eies / Ranke Sceanes of your luſt-ſvveating qualities: […]"
"[S]uch a comedy of errors, brought about by back doors, private ſtair-caſes, and falſe keys, might pleaſe the romantic taſte of the Spaniards, but vvill never bear the teſt of Engliſh criticiſm."
"'The Comedy of Humours' would have been a suitable name for it [William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (written 1595 or 1596)], as a companion piece to 'The Comedy of Errors'; for it is just a comedy of errors, with the element of humours or fancies added."
"It ſhall not be amiſſe (for him that vvill read) firſt to beholde this ſhort Comedy of Errors, and vvhere the greateſt enter, to giue them inſtead of a hiſſe, a gentle correction."
"I think I have seen such comedies of errors going on in the world."

Etymology

From comedy + of + errors, probably coined by the English playwright William Shakespeare (c. 1564 – 1616) as the title of the play The Comedy of Errors (written c. 1594; published 1623), about two sets of identical twins separated at birth who are involved in a series of mistaken identities.

Word Breakdown

Root: *keh₂-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌkɑmədi əv ˈɛɹəɹz/
British English: /ˌkɒmɪdi əv ˈɛɹəz/

Inflected Forms

comedies of errors (plural)

Phrases

parade of horribles parade of horrors

Frequently Paired Words

parade of horribles parade of horrors comedy of manners

Rhymes With

errors carers sharers darers

Questions

How do you pronounce comedy of errors?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌkɑmədi əv ˈɛɹəɹz/.
What does comedy of errors mean?: A comedy in which the humour is due to misinterpretations, mistaken identity, etc.
Where does comedy of errors come from?: From comedy + of + errors, probably coined by the English playwright William Shakespeare (c. 1564 – 1616) as the title of the play The Comedy of Errors (written c. 1594; published 1623), about two sets of identical twins separated at birth who are involved in a series of mistaken identities.

How to pronounce comedy of errors

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