cothurnus

[ koh-thur-nuhs ]

noun

, plural co·thur·ni [koh-, thur, -nahy].

1. a grave and elevated style of acting; tragic acting; tragedy.
2. buskin ( def 2 ).

cothurnus

/ kəʊˈθɜːnəs; ˈkəʊθɜːn; kəʊˈθɜːn /

noun

1. the buskin worn in ancient Greek tragedy

Other Words From

• co·thurnal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cothurnus¹

1720–30; < Latin < Greek kóthornos buskin, type of boot worn by tragic actors in heroic roles

Word History and Origins

Origin of cothurnus¹

C18: from Latin, from Greek kothornos

Example Sentences

It is not the Greek tragedy—although the ancient Melpomene has transmitted to our time its cothurnus, its mise en sc�ne, its triple unity, its heroes themselves, with their terrors and their tears.

From Project Gutenberg

He wore breeches or drawers, reaching to the knees, and his feet and the lower part of the leg were covered with the cothurnus, a sort of traveller's half-boot.

From Project Gutenberg

Cothurn, kō′thurn, Cothurnus, kō-thur′nus, n. a buskin or high boot laced in front, worn in tragic performances.

From Project Gutenberg

The cothurnus, or buskin, was soled with several layers of cork, which added at least three inches to the height of the actor, and the dress was judiciously padded, so as to give the whole figure the necessary heroic dimensions.

From Project Gutenberg

Cothurnus closes the prompt-book with a bang, arises matter-of-factly, comes down stage, and places the table over the two bodies, drawing down the cover so that they are hidden from any actors on the stage, but visible to the audience, pushing in their feet and hands with his boot.

From Project Gutenberg