Macbethan

comparative more Macbethan · superlative most Macbethan

1. alternativeAlternative form of Macbethian.

   The frequency of occurrences of this class justifies the Macbethan inquiry, “Will the line stretch out till the crack o’doom?”

   1875 February 19, “[Covington.] Still Another Case of Ravishment.”, in The Cincinnati Enquirer, volume XXXIII, number 50, Cincinnati, Oh., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 7, column 3

   2 more examples

   Patrick O’Brien mixed water and gin to plague the wife of his bosom, as Macbethan witches mixed monstrous medleys to mar the fortune of Douglas; for though Pat in his cups is a comical chap, more given to fighting than fondling.

   1869 April 16, “Police Court”, in The Daily Spectator, volume XXII, number 91, Hamilton, Ont., →ISSN, →OCLC, page [2], column 5

   By the way, writing of murders, is there not a great deal of fiction in the popular supposition that he who spills man’s blood becomes a victim to the gnawings of conscience, the pangs of remorse and various other unpleasant Macbethan sensations?

   1870 August 17, Bluebeard [pseudonym], “[Our California Letter. […]] Pangs of Conscience.”, in The Wheeling Daily Register, volume 8, number 207, Wheeling, W. Va., published 1 September 1870, →ISSN, →OCLC, page [3], column 3