histrionic
[ his-tree-on-ik ]
/ ˌhɪs triˈɒn ɪk /
|
adjective Also his·tri·on·i·cal.
of or relating to actors or acting.
deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in behavior or speech.
noun
an actor.
Nearby words
Origin of histrionic
1640–50; < Late Latin histrōnicus of actors, equivalent to histriōn- (stem of histriō) actor (said to be < Etruscan) + -icus -ic
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for histrionically
True, she could act; she had been told by many a great impressario that histrionically she had no peer in grand opera.
The Place of Honeymoons|Harold MacGrathThat it be seriously done with a real intention of doing the thing, and not histrionically, ludicrously, or in jest.
A Christian Directory|Baxter RichardBut histrionically it must be confessed that things dragged a little.
As a result he was but histrionically master of himself when the Countess Livia or the nimbus of the lady appeared in the room.
The Amazing Marriage, Complete|George Meredith
British Dictionary definitions for histrionically
histrionic
histrionical
/ (ˌhɪstrɪˈɒnɪk) /
adjective
excessively dramatic, insincere, or artificialhistrionic gestures
rare dramatic
noun
(plural) melodramatic displays of temperament
rare (plural, functioning as singular) dramatics
Derived Forms
histrionically, adverbWord Origin for histrionic
C17: from Late Latin histriōnicus of a player, from histriō actor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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