释义 |
‖ cothurnus|kəʊˈθɜːnəs| [L., ad. Gr. κόθορνος: rarely adapted as cothurn.] A thick-soled boot reaching to the middle of the leg, worn by tragic actors in the ancient Athenian drama; a buskin.
1727–51Chambers Cycl. s.v., Sophocles is said to have invented the cothurnus. 1798Edgeworth Pract. Educ. (1822) II. 29 The actor on the stage is admired whilst he is elevated by the cothurnus. 1820W. Tooke Lucian I. 551 Think of a tragic actor, who should stand with one foot in a high cothurnus, while the other was quite unshod. 188019th Cent. VII. 60 The Cothurnus..equalised the stature of the actors. b. fig. As characteristic of tragedy, or of a tragic and elevated style.
1852Thackeray Esmond i, She too wears the mask and the cothurnus, and speaks to measure. 1884Farrar Messages of Bks. xv. 300 St. Paul cannot always wear the majestic cothurnus, yet his lightest words are full of dignity. |