Caliban

[ kal-uh-ban ]

noun

1. a character in Shakespeare's The Tempest, described as the half-human native inhabitant of the island, who is enslaved by the character Prospero.

Caliban

/ ˈkælɪˌbæn /

noun

1. a brutish or brutalized man

Word History and Origins

Origin of Caliban¹

First recorded in 1610–15; probably a variant of cannibal ( def ) or Carib ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Caliban¹

C19: after a character in Shakespeare's The Tempest (1611)

Example Sentences

He would then deliver the objects to John Schulman, the proprietor of Caliban’s book shop and an occasional expert on PBS’s Antique Roadshow, who would sell them.

From The Daily Beast

Clegg first introduces himself to Miranda as Ferdinand, but she later dubs him Caliban.

From The Daily Beast

And cruder devices certainly deepen the effect of a name; Caliban is a rough anagram of “cannibal,” and Cassio contains an “ass.”

From The Daily Beast

With his jarring sinister performances—part art-rock, part bawdy Musical Hall—he became the Caliban/Quasimodo of Punk.

From The Daily Beast

Caliban, Ariel, the love-scene—all belong to the highest creations of art.

From Project Gutenberg

The wild, uncouth Caliban, the wonderful flights of Ariel—these are creations of the first order.

From Project Gutenberg

Caliban led the way with young Dave, and Hale walked side by side with them while Bob was escort for the other two.

From Project Gutenberg

Dan was well hardened to her cajoleries by this time; he was confident that she would have made "sweet eyes at Caliban."

From Project Gutenberg

To one accustomed to the aspect of the normal American population, the Caliban type shows up with a frequency that is startling.

From Project Gutenberg