melodrama

melodrama
Drama Dra"ma (dr[aum]"m[.a] or dr[=a]"m[.a]; 277), n. [L. drama, Gr. dra^ma, fr. dra^n 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. [1913 Webster]

A divine pastoral drama in the Song of Solomon. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. A series of real events invested with a dramatic unity and interest. ``The drama of war.'' --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

The drama and contrivances of God's providence. --Sharp. [1913 Webster]

3. Dramatic composition and the literature pertaining to or illustrating it; dramatic literature. [1913 Webster]

Note: The principal species of the drama are {tragedy} and {comedy}; inferior species are {tragi-comedy}, {melodrama}, {operas}, {burlettas}, and {farces}. [1913 Webster]

{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.


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • melodramă — MELODRÁMĂ, melodrame, s.f. 1. Dialog cântat în tragedia antică greacă, între un corifeu şi un personaj. 2. Dramă care utiliza acompaniamentul muzical pentru a marca intrarea sau ieşirea personajelor din scenă. 3. Operă dramatică în care acţiunea… …   Dicționar Român

  • Melodrama — Mel o*dra ma, n. [F. m[ e]lodrame, fr. Gr. me los song + dra^ma drama.] Formerly, a kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes. Now, a drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • melodrama — (n.) 1784 (1782 as melo drame), a stage play in which songs were interspersed and music accompanied the action, from Fr. mélodrame (18c.), from Gk. melos song (see MELODY (Cf. melody)) + Fr. drame drama (see DRAMA (Cf. drama)). Meaning a romantic …   Etymology dictionary

  • melodrama — melodramà dkt. Išori̇̀niais póžymiais melodramà artimà tragèdijai …   Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodyno antraštynas

  • melodrama — sustantivo masculino 1. Obra teatral, literaria o cinematográfica en la que se exageran los aspectos sentimentales y patéticos para conmover al público: Los melodramas dividen el mundo entre buenos y malos y el triunfo final es de los buenos. 2.… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • melodrama — ► NOUN 1) a sensational play with exaggerated characters and exciting events. 2) behaviour or events resembling melodrama. ORIGIN originally denoting a play, especially of a romantic or sensational nature, interspersed with songs and music: from… …   English terms dictionary

  • Melodrāma — (gr.), Unterart des Singspiels, nach der Zahl der spielenden Personen auch Monodrama, wenn nur eine, u. Duodrama, wenn zwei Personen thätig sind, genannt, ist ein dramatisches Gedicht, das durch abwechselnd eintretende Musik unterbrochen wird.… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Melodrāma — (griech.), früher ein Drama mit Musik, d. h. Oper; jetzt eine Deklamation mit Instrumentalbegleitung, sei es innerhalb eines Bühnenstückes, wie in Goethes »Egmont«, sei es als selbständiges Kunstwerk, wie z. B. die Balladen für Deklamation mit… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Melodrama — Melodrāma (grch.), Schauspiel oder Deklamation, begleitet von Instrumentalmusik …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Melodrama — Melodrama, eine Art des Drama, in welchem der declamatorische Redevortrag von Instrumentalmusik unterbrochen oder begleitet wird, wo die Musik schildernd und hebend den Gang der Handlung unterstützt, und die durch dieselben erregten Gefühle… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

  • Melodrama — Melodrama, griech., Drama, wo der Dialog von Musik unterbrochen u. einzelne Stellen der Declamation von der selben begleitet werden, kam durch Rousseau auf und wurde durch Benda in Deutschland eingeführt, der das Dramatische gänzlich in… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

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