Beatrice

See also Béatrice

English

Etymology

Latin Beatrix, name of early Christian saints, from beatrix "she who makes happy".

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbɪətrɪs/, SAMPA: /"bI@trIs/

Proper noun

Beatrice

1. A female given name.
   • 1600, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act II:Scene II:

     I, with your two helps, will so practise on Benedick that , in despite of his quick wit and his queasy stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice.

   • 1797 William Roscoe, The Life of Lorenzo di Medici, London 1797, Chapter II:

     Petrarca had his Laura, and Dante his Beatrice, but Lorenzo has studiously concealed the name of the sovereign of his affections.

   • 2001 Anne Tyler, Alfred A. Knopf 2001, Back When We Were Grownups, ISBN 0375412530, page 132:

     "Seventeen years old - a senior in high school. Beatrice, her name is."

     Beatrice! Rebecca was struck dumb with admiration. Beatrice would be a female version of Tristram. Rebecca pictured her in a modest muslin dress from the nineteeth century, although she knew that was unlikely.

Usage notes

• Used in the Middle Ages and once again popular around 1900.

Translations

female given name

Dutch: Beatrijs (nl), Beatrix (nl) French: Béatrice (fr) German: Beatrix (de) Italian: Beatrice (it) Latin: Beatrix (la) Latvian: Beatrise (lv) f.

Polish: Beata (pl) Scottish Gaelic: Beitris (gd) f. Spanish: Beatriz (es) Swedish: Beatrice (sv) Welsh: Betrys (cy) f.

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German

Proper noun

Beatrice

1. A female given name, Italian and English form of Beatrix.

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Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌbeaˈtritʃɛ/

Proper noun

Beatrice

1. A female given name, equivalent of English Beatrice.

Anagrams

• berciate

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Swedish

Proper noun

Beatrice

1. A female given name of Latin origin, used since the 19th century.