cothurnus

American  

[koh-thur-nuhs] / koʊˈθɜr nəs /

Also cothurn

noun

plural

cothurni

1. a grave and elevated style of acting; tragic acting; tragedy.

2. buskin.

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cothurnus British  

/ kəʊˈθɜːnəs, ˈkəʊθɜːn, kəʊˈθɜːn /

noun

1. the buskin worn in ancient Greek tragedy

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Other Word Forms

• cothurnal adjective

Etymology

Origin of cothurnus

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

Example Sentences

Some of the quiet characters away from the centre of great affairs are as well worth our attention as those who in high-heeled cothurnus stalk across the foreground.

From Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 3 of 3) Essay 7: W.R. Greg: A Sketch by Morley, John

The cothurnus of Aeschylus has, as it were, the weight of iron: gigantic figures stalk in upon it.

From Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature by Black, John

His is a muse which never lays aside the cothurnus, and a royalty which never puts off its crown, even in sleep.

From Amiel's Journal by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

Voltaire, however, is without excuse, as the mention of the cothurnus leaves no doubt that he alluded to tragic masks.

From Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature by Black, John

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 Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 2 by Roby, John