parabasis

[ puh-rab-uh-sis ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural pa·rab·a·ses [p, uh, -, rab, -, uh, -seez].

(in ancient Greek drama) a choral ode addressed to the audience, especially of comedy, and independent of the action of the play: usually following the agon and, in the earliest forms of comedy, serving often to end the play.

parabasis

/ pəˈræbəsɪs /

1810–20; < Greek parábasis a going aside, digression; para- ¹, basis

C19: from Greek, from parabanein to step forward

Parabasis, pa-rab′a-sis, n. the chief of the choral parts in ancient Greek comedy, usually an address from the poet to the public.

In the comedies, like the masques in other days, sarcastic remarks on the government came to be made; this was the Parabasis.

They were also remarkable for the absence of the parabasis and chorus.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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