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one-acter

American  
[wuhn-ak-ter] / ˈwʌnˈæk tər /
Also one-act

noun

Informal.
  1. a short play consisting of one act.


Etymology

Origin of one-acter

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

How could I not include the philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre’s vicious little four-character one-acter?

From New York Times • May 31, 2020

It was adapted from Thornton Wilder’s play “The Matchmaker,” which grew out of his “The Merchant of Yonkers,” itself adapted from an 1842 Austrian reworking of an 1835 American one-acter.

From New York Times • Apr. 20, 2017

It is paired with David Hare's excellent one-acter, South Downs, set in Lancing College.

From The Guardian • Jul. 13, 2012

What fascinates Benveniste and the many fans of St. Germain's one-acter, is its articulate exploration of Freud's thoughts on religion in contrast with the beliefs of Lewis.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2012

I urged that our first offering should be a bill of three one-act plays, including Paul Green’s Hymn to the Rising Sun, a grim, poetical, powerful one-acter dealing with chain gang conditions in the South.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright