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Greek drama was originally entirely performed by choruses. According to tradition, the Greek dramatist Thespis, of the 6th century B.C., was the inventor of tragedy and the first to write roles for the individual actor as distinct from the chorus, and the actor's exchanges with the chorus were the first dramatic dialogue. Since Thespis himself performed the individual parts in his own plays, he was also the first true actor. Ever since choruses disappeared from drama, thespians have filled all the roles in plays. Thespian is also an adjective; thus, we can speak of "thespian ambitions" and "thespian traditions", for example.
Synonyms
Examples of thespian in a Sentence
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025
In light of the death of original Mufasa actor James Earl Jones, who died Sep. 9 at the age of 93, the entire film opens with a tribute to the late thespian.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Travis Bean, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
The people in her vicinity, the lights overhead, the bones of the building itself — all rapt with keen attention when her booming voice echoes through the air, commanding attention as wide as the space stretches or as intimately pointed as whatever wise words slip off her thespian tongue.
—EW.com, 7 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near thespian
Cite this Entry
“Thespian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thespian. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
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