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Thespis

American  
[thes-pis] / ˈθɛs pɪs /

noun

  1. flourished 6th century b.c., Greek poet.


Thespis British  
/ ˈθɛspɪs /

noun

  1. 6th century bc , Greek poet, regarded as the founder of tragic drama

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

So I do my best to be proud and unashamed of Thespis, that sloppy, oversized, barely controllable monster.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 24, 2016

She decided to submit her play to the Thespis Theater Festival in New York.

From Washington Post • Aug. 6, 2015

That’s when Thespis is believed to have won the prize for tragedy at the annual festival of Dionysus in Athens.

From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2015

Photograph: Tristram Kenton The Ancient Greek performer Thespis failed to make the cut despite his somewhat groundbreaking work, as did the considerably more alive Simon Russell Beale.

From The Guardian • Sep. 22, 2010

It is to be called The Thespis, and will visit all the principal places on the river during the Season, and ought to do uncommonly well.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98, May 31, 1890 by Various