commedia dell'arte

American  

[kuh-mey-dee-uh del-ahr-tee, kawm-me-dyah del-lahr-te] / kəˈmeɪ di ə dɛlˈɑr ti, kɔmˈmɛ dyɑ dɛlˈlɑr tɛ /

noun

commedia dell'artes, plural commedias dell'arte, plural commedie dell'arte plural

1. Italian popular comedy, developed chiefly during the 16th–18th centuries, in which masked entertainers improvised from a plot outline based on themes associated with stock characters and situations.

---

commedia dell'arte British  

/ kɔmˈmeːdia delˈlarte /

noun

1. a form of popular comedy developed in Italy during the 16th to 18th centuries, with stock characters such as Punchinello, Harlequin, and Columbine, in situations improvised from a plot outline

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• commedias dell'arte
  plural
• commedia dell'artes
  plural
• commedie dell'arte
  plural

Etymology

Origin of commedia dell'arte

1875–80; < Italian: literally, comedy of art

Example Sentences

With his gruff voice, small frame and clownlike gift for physical exaggeration, he could easily have been typecast as a commedia dell’arte servant.

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2022

The avant-garde ensemble, created by Ariane Mnouchkine, worked in the Italian commedia dell’arte tradition, using stock characters and masks.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2022

The actors josh with each other and the audience in the madcap communal spirit of commedia dell’arte troupers.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2021

One day, the director of the Perry Street Theater, knowing of his training in commedia dell’arte, asked him to make a mask for the stock character Arlecchino, also called Harlequin.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2021

A recurring bit includes one of them choking on French fries; commedia dell’arte experience helpful.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle