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pantomime

[pan-tuh-mahym]
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noun
  1. the art or technique of conveying emotions, actions, feelings, etc., by gestures without speech.
  2. a play or entertainment in which the performers express themselves mutely by gestures, often to the accompaniment of music.
  3. significant gesture without speech.
  4. an actor in dumb show, as in ancient Rome.
  5. Also called Christmas pantomime. a form of theatrical spectacle common in England during the Christmas season, generally adapted from a fairy tale and including stock character types who perform songs and dances, tell jokes, etc.
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verb (used with object), pan·to·mimed, pan·to·mim·ing.
  1. to represent or express in pantomime.
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verb (used without object), pan·to·mimed, pan·to·mim·ing.
  1. to express oneself in pantomime.
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Origin of pantomime

1580–90; earlier pantomimus < Latin < Greek pantómīmos. See panto-, mime
Related formspan·to·mim·ic [pan-tuh-mim-ik] /ˌpæn təˈmɪm ɪk/, pan·to·mim·i·cal, adjectivepan·to·mim·i·cal·ly, adverbpan·to·mim·ic·ry, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for pantomimed

Historical Examples

  • Here Mr. Dempsey pantomimed the action of tossing off a dram.

    The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. II (of II)

    Charles James Lever

  • Smith shook his head and pantomimed Handy to survey his get-up.

    A Pirate of Parts

    Richard Neville

  • Miss Levering turned and pantomimed to Ernestine, 'You see it's no use!'

    The Convert

    Elizabeth Robins

  • The clown, drawing from the wide pantaloons a dollar, pantomimed to Bud.

    The Court of Boyville

    William Allen White

  • The guide was pantomimed by our fat man for a conservative pace becoming the hot morning and the difficult route.

British Dictionary definitions for pantomimed

pantomime

noun
  1. (in Britain)
    1. a kind of play performed at Christmas time characterized by farce, music, lavish sets, stock roles, and topical jokesSometimes shortened to: panto
    2. (as modifier)a pantomime horse
  2. a theatrical entertainment in which words are replaced by gestures and bodily actions
  3. action without words as a means of expression
  4. (in ancient Rome) an actor in a dumb show
  5. informal, mainly British a confused or farcical situation
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verb
  1. another word for mime (def. 5)
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Derived Formspantomimic (ˌpæntəˈmɪmɪk), adjectivepantomimist (ˈpæntəˌmaɪmɪst), noun

Word Origin

C17: via Latin from Greek pantomīmos; see panto-, mime
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pantomimed

pantomime

n.

1610s, "mime actor," from Latin pantomimus "mime, dancer," from Greek pantomimos "actor," literally "imitator of all," from panto- (genitive of pan) "all" (see pan-) + mimos "imitator" (see mime (n.)).

Meaning "drama or play without words" first recorded 1735. The English dramatic performances so called, usually at Christmas and with words and songs and stock characters, are attested by this name from 1739; said to have originated c.1717. Related: Pantomimic; pantomimical.

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pantomime

v.

1768, from pantomime (n.). Related: Pantomimed; pantomiming.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper