English Dictionary: comedy | by the DICT Development Group |
3 results for comedy | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Drama \Dra"ma\ (?; 277), n. [L. drama, Gr. [?], fr. [?] to do, act; cf. Lith. daryti.] 1. A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action, and intended to exhibit a picture of human life, or to depict a series of grave or humorous actions of more than ordinary interest, tending toward some striking result. It is commonly designed to be spoken and represented by actors on the stage. A divine pastoral drama in the Song of Solomon. --Milton. 2. A series of real events invested with a dramatic unity and interest. [bd]The drama of war.[b8] --Thackeray. Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last. --Berkeley. The drama and contrivances of God's providence. --Sharp. 3. Dramatic composition and the literature pertaining to or illustrating it; dramatic literature. Note: The principal species of the drama are {tragedy} and {comedy}; inferior species are {tragi-comedy}, {melodrama}, {operas}, {burlettas}, and {farces}. {The romantic drama}, the kind of drama whose aim is to present a tale or history in scenes, and whose plays (like those of Shakespeare, Marlowe, and others) are stories told in dialogue by actors on the stage. --J. A. Symonds. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Comedy \Com"e*dy\, n.; pl. {Comedies}. [F. com[82]die, L. comoedia, fr. Gr. [?]; [?] a jovial festivity with music and dancing, a festal procession, an ode sung at this procession (perh. akin to [?] village, E. home) + [?] to sing; for comedy was originally of a lyric character. See {Home}, and {Ode}.] A dramatic composition, or representation of a bright and amusing character, based upon the foibles of individuals, the manners of society, or the ludicrous events or accidents of life; a play in which mirth predominates and the termination of the plot is happy; -- opposed to tragedy. With all the vivacity of comedy. --Macaulay. Are come to play a pleasant comedy. --Shak. |