Behind the curtain

Behind the curtain
Curtain Cur"tain (k[^u]r"t[i^]n; 48), n. [OE.cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine, curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See {Court}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A hanging screen intended to darken or conceal, and admitting of being drawn back or up, and reclosed at pleasure; esp., drapery of cloth or lace hanging round a bed or at a window; in theaters, and like places, a movable screen for concealing the stage. [1913 Webster]

2. (Fort.) That part of the rampart and parapet which is between two bastions or two gates. See Illustrations of {Ravelin} and {Bastion}. [1913 Webster]

3. (Arch.) That part of a wall of a building which is between two pavilions, towers, etc. [1913 Webster]

4. A flag; an ensign; -- in contempt. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Behind the curtain}, in concealment; in secret.

{Curtain lecture}, a querulous lecture given by a wife to her husband within the bed curtains, or in bed. --Jerrold. [1913 Webster]

A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffering. --W. Irving.

{The curtain falls}, the performance closes.

{The curtain rises}, the performance begins.

{To draw the curtain}, to close it over an object, or to remove it; hence: (a) To hide or to disclose an object. (b) To commence or close a performance.

{To drop the curtain}, to end the tale, or close the performance. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • The Man Behind the Curtain — Episodio de Lost Título El hombre tras la cortina (España) El hombre detrás de la cortina (Hispanoamérica) Episodio nº 20 Temporada 3 Escrito p …   Wikipedia Español

  • behind the curtain — 1. Hid, invisible, concealed, in concealment, out of sight. 2. In the secret, let into the secret, acquainted with the inner mechanism or motives, behind the scenes …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • behind the curtain — where one cannot see, behind the partition, out of sight …   English contemporary dictionary

  • The curtain falls — Curtain Cur tain (k[^u]r t[i^]n; 48), n. [OE.cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine, curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See {Court}.] [1913 Webster] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • The curtain rises — Curtain Cur tain (k[^u]r t[i^]n; 48), n. [OE.cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine, curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See {Court}.] [1913 Webster] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • behind the scenes — Synonyms and related words: DR, alive to, appreciative of, apprised of, awake to, aware of, back to back, backstage, before an audience, before the footlights, behind, behind the curtain, behind the veil, camouflaged, causal, causative, cognizant …   Moby Thesaurus

  • behind the scenes — See under 2, behind the curtain …   New dictionary of synonyms

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