Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Nearby Entries
cothurnus - 4 dictionary results

co⋅thur⋅nus

[koh-thur-nuhs]
–noun, plural -ni [-nahy] .
1. a grave and elevated style of acting; tragic acting; tragedy.
2. buskin (def. 2).
Also, co⋅thurn [koh-thurn, koh-thurn] .


Origin:
1720–30; < L < Gk kóthornos buskin, type of boot worn by tragic actors in heroic roles


co⋅thur⋅nal, adjective

bus⋅kin

[buhs-kin]
–noun
1. a thick-soled, laced boot or half boot.
2. Also called cothurnus. the high, thick-soled shoe worn by ancient Greek and Roman tragedians.
3. buskins, stockings decorated with gold thread worn by a bishop at a Pontifical Mass.
4. tragic drama; tragedy. Compare sock 1 (def. 3).
5. the art of acting, esp. tragic acting.
6. a woman's low-cut shoe with elastic gores at the sides of the instep, popular in the early 20th century.

Origin:
1495–1505; prob. alter. of MF bro(u)sequin, of uncert. orig.
co·thur·nus   (kō-thûr'nəs)   
n.   pl. co·thur·ni (-nī')
  1. A buskin worn by actors of classical tragedy.
  2. The ancient style of classical tragedy.

[Latin, from Greek kothornos.]

Cothurnus

Co*thur"nus\ (-n?s), n. [L.] Same as Cothurn.
Search another word or see cothurnus on Thesaurus | Reference
>