proscenium
oxford
views updated May 17 2018pro·sce·ni·um / prəˈsēnēəm; prō-/ •
n. (pl. -ni·ums or -ni·a / -nēə/ ) the part of a theater stage in front of the curtain. ∎ short for proscenium arch. ∎ the stage of an ancient theater.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
proscenium
oxford
views updated May 23 2018proscenium in the ancient theatre, space between background and orchestra XVII; in the mod. theatre, space between curtain and orchestra XIX. — L.
proscēnium — Gr.
proskḗnion, f.
PRO-2 +
skēnḗ SCENE.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
proscenium
oxford
views updated Jun 08 2018proscenium. 1. Stage, or part of an
Antique theatre whereon actors performed in front of the
scena.
2. In later theatres, the portion of the stage between the curtain and the orchestra.
A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL
proscenium
oxford
views updated May 18 2018proscenium In the
theatre, the front part of the stage, especially the arch, first used in 17th-century Italian theatre to create a picture-frame effect.
World Encyclopedia
proscenium
oxford
views updated May 14 2018proscenium the part of a theatre stage in front of the curtain; the stage of an ancient theatre.
The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES