Herbert
Herbert — noun
1. George Herbert (1593–1633) was an English priest and poet whose work blended rel
George Herbert (1593–1633) was an English priest and poet whose work blended religious devotion with clever wordplay and simple, musical language. He is best known for the collection of poems titled 'The Temple' (1633).
In literature class, Aiko studied George Herbert's religious poem 'The Collar' with great interest.
proper noun + possessive for referencing a work
Priya read the poet-priest George Herbert's poems for her course on metaphysical poetry.
collocation: metaphysical poetry
The rare-books room holds a first edition of poet George Herbert's 'The Temple' from 1633.
Dr. Okafor compared Herbert's poetic style to that of his contemporary John Donne.
surname alone + possessive for stylistic comparison
- Herbert's poetry
- Herbert's work
- Herbert's religious poems
- metaphysical poet George Herbert
Grammar Patterns
Herbert + noun phrase (e.g. Herbert's poetry)
the + full name (e.g. the George Herbert collection)
Usage Note
In literary contexts, 'Herbert' used alone almost always refers to George Herbert. Specify 'Victor Herbert' or 'William Herbert' when referring to the other historical figures.
Common Mistakes
2. Victor Herbert (1859–1924) was an Irish-born American composer and conductor who
Victor Herbert (1859–1924) was an Irish-born American composer and conductor who wrote popular operettas, orchestral works, and film scores. His best-known works include 'Babes in Toyland' (1903) and 'Naughty Marietta' (1910).
The orchestra performed the composer Victor Herbert's 'Babes in Toyland' at the winter concert.
proper noun + possessive for naming a musical work
Leila listened to Victor Herbert's cello concerto during her morning commute on the train.
Music students at the conservatory studied composer Victor Herbert's operetta works from the early 1900s.
collocation: operetta compositions
Yusuf selected a Victor Herbert waltz for his piano recital last semester.
- Herbert's operetta
- Herbert's waltz
- Victor Herbert score
- Herbert composition
Grammar Patterns
Herbert + noun phrase (e.g. Herbert's operetta)
the + full name (e.g. the Victor Herbert score)
Usage Note
In music contexts, 'Herbert' alone typically refers to Victor Herbert. He is especially associated with early 20th-century American operetta and orchestral light music.
3. William Herbert (1580–1630), the 3rd Earl of Pembroke, was an English nobleman,
William Herbert (1580–1630), the 3rd Earl of Pembroke, was an English nobleman, statesman, and patron of the arts. He served as Lord Chamberlain and is remembered for supporting writers, including William Shakespeare.
The historian noted William Herbert's role as a patron of the arts in Elizabethan England.
collocation: patron of the arts
Nadia read about the nobleman William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, in her history seminar.
proper noun + title for historical identification
Scholars believe that William Herbert supported the playing company that performed Shakespeare's new plays.
The Pembroke archive holds letters written by William Herbert to fellow members of Parliament.
- William Herbert's patronage
- Earl of Pembroke
- Herbert as patron
Grammar Patterns
Herbert + title (e.g. Herbert, the 3rd Earl of Pembroke)
the + full name (e.g. the William Herbert papers)
Usage Note
Always use the full name 'William Herbert' or 'the 3rd Earl of Pembroke' for clarity. Unlike the other two senses, 'Herbert' alone does not commonly refer to this figure.
Etymology
The English surname Herbert comes from a Germanic personal name made up of two elements: 'heri' or 'hari' meaning 'army' and 'beraht' meaning 'bright' or 'famous'. The name was brought to England by the Normans after 1066 and was borne by several noble families, including the Earls of Pembroke. Over time it became both a surname and a given name, and it is now most widely recognised through the three historical figures covered in this entry.