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

They never speak except ore rotundo, in cothurnus, or sometimes on stilts.

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

But, for right walking, choose The fine, The strict cothurnus, Muse.

From Collected Poems Volume One by Noyes, Alfred

The actor on the stage is admired whilst he is elevated by the cothurnus; but young men are not to exhibit their oratorical talents always with the advantages of stage effect and decorations.

From Practical Education, Volume II by Edgeworth, Maria

She wears the cothurnus, and her head is wreathed with vine leaves.

From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook, Vol. 3 by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham

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