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proscenium

 - 3 dictionary results

pro⋅sce⋅ni⋅um

  [proh-see-nee-uhm, pruh-]
–noun, plural -ni⋅a  [-nee-uh] . Theater.
1. Also called proscenium arch. the arch that separates a stage from the auditorium. Abbreviation: pros.
2. (formerly) the apron or, esp. in ancient theater, the stage itself.
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Origin:
1600–10; < L proscēnium, proscaenium < Gk prosknion entrance to a tent, porch, stage (LGk: stage curtain), equiv. to pro- pro- 2 + skēn() (see scene ) + -ion neut. n. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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pro·sce·ni·um   (prō-sē'nē-əm, prə-)   
n.   pl. pro·sce·ni·ums or pro·sce·ni·a (-nē-ə)

  1. The area of a modern theater that is located between the curtain and the orchestra.

  2. The stage of an ancient theater, located between the background and the orchestra.

  3. A proscenium arch.


[Latin proscēnium, from Greek proskēnion : pro-, before; see pro-2 + skēnē, buildings at the back of the stage.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

proscenium 
1606, "stage of an ancient theater," from L. proscaenium, from Gk. proskenion "the space in front of the scenery," also "entrance of a tent," from pro "in front" + skene "stage, tent, booth." Modern sense of "space between the curtain and the orchestra" is attested from 1807.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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