tritagonist

[ trih-tag-uh-nist ]

noun

1. (in ancient Greece) the third member of an acting troupe, which always consisted of three actors. Compare protagonist ( def 4 ), deuteragonist.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tritagonist¹

1885–90; < Greek tritagōnistḗs, equivalent to trit ( ós ) third + agōnistḗs actor, competitor, agent derivative of agōnízesthai to contend, struggle, compete for the acting prize

Example Sentences

Tritagonist, tri-tag′on-ist, n. the third actor in the Greek drama.

From Project Gutenberg