Thespian

[thes-pee-uh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR Thespian ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

(often lowercase) pertaining to tragedy or to the dramatic art in general.

of or characteristic of Thespis.

of or relating to Thespiae.

noun

(sometimes lowercase) a tragedian; an actor or actress.

Origin of Thespian

First recorded in 1665–75; Thespi(s) + -an

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for thespian

star, ham, lead, extra, character, understudy, artist, player, entertainer, idol, performer, headliner

Examples from the Web for thespian

Contemporary Examples of thespian

In the installation, the British thespian would sleep in a glass box in the museum with nothing but pillows and a water jug.
Lady Gaga, John Lennon & More Celebs Doing Performance Art (VIDEO)
Rachel Osman , Victoria Kezra
August 9, 2013
Brooding British thespian Henry Cavill (famous to Showtime fans of The Tudors) is on tap as the new Superman.
Invasion of the Bodybuilders
Chris Lee
June 6, 2011
His sublimated rage at Madonna notwithstanding, he is happy to defend her as a thespian.
The New Adventures of Guy Ritchie
Jacob Bernstein
December 21, 2009

Historical Examples of thespian

And every one at the Thespian would be tactful and considerate.
The Education of Eric Lane
Stephen McKenna
After this achievement he advanced from the seaboard and encamped in Leuctra on Thespian territory.
Hellenica
Xenophon
"To show that he's 'got the bird,'" replied the brilliant Thespian.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, October 14, 1914
Various
The Thespian interludes had been acted on a wooden scaffolding.
Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol II of 2)
John Addington Symonds
When an excited Thespian took off his hat, it smoked like a dish of potatoes.
Adrift in the Arctic Ice Pack
Elisha Kent Kane

British Dictionary definitions for thespian

Thespian

adjective

of or relating to Thespis

(usually not capital) of or relating to drama and the theatre; dramatic

noun (usually not capital)

often facetious an actor or actress

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 thespian

adj.

1670s, "of or pertaining to tragedy or dramatic acting," from Greek Thespis, poet of 6c. B.C.E., the traditional father of Greek tragedy. The names is literally "inspired by the gods."

"an actor," 1827, from thespian (adj.). Short form thesp is attested from 1962.