stichomythia

Also sti·chom·y·thy

[stik-uh-mith-ee-uh]

noun

1. dramatic dialogue, as in a Greek play, characterized by brief exchanges between two characters, each of whom usually speaks in one line of verse during a scene of intense emotion or strong argumentation.

stichomythia

/ ˌstɪkəʊˈmɪθɪə, stɪˈkɒmɪθɪ /

noun

1. a form of dialogue originating in Greek drama in which single lines are uttered by alternate speakers

Other Word Forms

• stichomythic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stichomythia¹

1860–65; < Greek stichomȳthía, equivalent to stícho ( s ) ( stich ¹ ) + -mȳthia ( mŷth ( os ) speech, story + -ia -ia )

Word History and Origins

Origin of stichomythia¹

C19: from Greek stikhomuthein to speak alternate lines, from stikhos line + muthos speech; see _myth

Example Sentences

Last year one of the final words of the National Spelling Bee was stichomythia.

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Sriram Hathwar, from Painted Post, New York and Ansun Sujoe from Fort Worth, Texas proved they mastered the spelling of “stichomythia” and “feuilleton” — their respective championship words at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Read more on Salon

He tackled the word “stichomythia,” which is a type of dialogue delivered between two actors.

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Sriram’s final word was “stichomythia,” a theatrical term.

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In the final round, Hathwar, a 14-year-old from Painted Post, N.Y., correctly spelled stichomythia — a dramatic dispute between two actors.

Read more on Time