Word of the Day

: January 10, 2007

histrionic

adjective his-tree-AH-nik

What It Means

1 : deliberately affected : theatrical

2 : of or relating to actors, acting, or the theater

histrionic in Context

Professor Dawson's histrionic flair may have been excessive, but it certainly made his history lectures entertaining.

Did You Know?

The term "histrionic" developed from "histrio," Latin for "actor." Something that is "histrionic" tends to remind one of the high drama of stage and screen and is often stagy and over-the-top. It especially calls to mind the theatrical form known as the "melodrama," where plot and physical action, not characterization, are emphasized. But something that is "histrionic" isn't always overdone; the word might simply refer to an actor or something related to the theater. In that sense, it becomes a synonym of "thespian."

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.