figurant
[ fig-yuh-rant, -rahnt; French fee-gy-rahn ]
/ ˌfɪg yəˈrænt, -ˈrɑnt; French fi güˈrɑ̃ /
noun
a ballet dancer who does not perform solo.
a performer with no spoken lines.
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Origin of figurant
First recorded in 1775–80; from French, present participle of figurer “to figure, appear, represent,” from Old French, from Latin figūrāre, “to form, shape,” from figūra “form, composition”; see origin at figure
Words nearby figurant
figment, figment of one's imagination, Figueres, figuline, figural, figurant, figurante, figurate, figurate number, figuration, figurative
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for figurant
The figurant, from this modest and accidental beginning of his career as an actor, speedily rose to be famous.
A Book of the Play|Dutton Cook
British Dictionary definitions for figurant
figurant
/ (ˈfɪɡjʊrənt) /
noun
a ballet dancer who does group work but no solo roles
theatre a minor character, esp one who does not speak
Derived forms of figurant
figurante (ˌfɪɡjʊˈrɒnt), fem nWord Origin for figurant
C18: from French, from figurer to represent, appear, figure
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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