Henriad

English

Etymology

Popularized in the Shakespearean sense by Alvin Kernan in 1969 in his book The Henriad: Shakespeare’s Major History Plays, from Henry +‎ -iad.

Proper noun

Henriad

1. A group of four of Shakespeare’s plays: Richard II; Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V, with the implication that these four plays are Shakespeare’s epic poem.
2. Either of two groups of four each of Shakespeare’s plays: The "first Henriad" (Richard II; Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V), and the "second Henriad" (Henry VI, part 1, Henry VI, part 2, Henry VI, part 3, and Richard III).
3. The title translated into English of an epic poem, Le Henriade, by Voltaire.

Anagrams

• adherin, handier