Definition of cothurnus in US English:
cothurnus
noun kōˈTHərnəskoʊˈθərnəskoʊˈθərnəs
1A thick-soled boot or buskin worn by actors in Greek tragedy.
Example sentencesExamples
- The cothurnus was worn principally by horsemen, hunters, and men of rank and authority.
- While the actors wore the cothurnus, the chorus appeared in their usual sandals.
- To increase their height the tragic performers wore the cothurnus, a sort of buskin with high soles and still higher heels.
- She wears a crown of cypress and the cothurnus boots often worn by tragic actors.
- Encumbered as he was with his mask and cothurnus, to say nothing of the padding, it will be seen that the Athenian tragic actor had no easy task before him.
2An elevated style of acting in classical tragic drama.