pantomime

[pan-tuh-mahym]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pantomime ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the art or technique of conveying emotions, actions, feelings, etc., by gestures without speech.

a play or entertainment in which the performers express themselves mutely by gestures, often to the accompaniment of music.

significant gesture without speech.

an actor in dumb show, as in ancient Rome.

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.

verb (used with object), pan·to·mimed, pan·to·mim·ing.

to represent or express in pantomime.

verb (used without object), pan·to·mimed, pan·to·mim·ing.

to express oneself in pantomime.

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. 2019

Related Words for pantomimed

ape, resemble, simulate, mirror, fake, do, play, caricature, ditto, parrot, parody, perform, copy, ridicule, copycat, echo, burlesque, mime, travesty, act

Examples from the Web for pantomimed

Historical Examples of pantomimed

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.
Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 26, August, 1880
Various

British Dictionary definitions for pantomimed

pantomime

noun

(in Britain)

a kind of play performed at Christmas time characterized by farce, music, lavish sets, stock roles, and topical jokesSometimes shortened to: panto
(as modifier)a pantomime horse

a theatrical entertainment in which words are replaced by gestures and bodily actions

action without words as a means of expression

(in ancient Rome) an actor in a dumb show

informal, mainly British a confused or farcical situation

verb

another word for mime (def. 5)

Derived Formspantomimic (ˌpæntəˈmɪmɪk), adjectivepantomimist (ˈpæntəˌmaɪmɪst), noun

Word Origin for pantomime

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

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.

pantomime

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