Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of or relating to drama; dramatic.
  • adjective Of or relating to Thespis.
  • noun An actor or actress.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of or relating to Thespis, a semi-legendary Greek poet of Icaria in Attica, often called the father of tragedy; relating or pertaining to dramatic acting in general; dramatic; tragic: as, the Thespian art, the drama.
  • noun An actor.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Of or pertaining to Thespis; hence, relating to the drama; dramatic.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective of, or relating to drama and acting; dramatic, theatrical
  • noun an actor or player

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a theatrical performer
  • adjective of or relating to drama

Etymologies

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Examples

  • That sounded strange to me, so I called my thespian friend, Eric Oleson (it's okay to call him that because he's openly thespian).

    American Beat: An Unusual Love Story 2007

  • Growing up, Suzy Berger would cringe when she was called a thespian.

    A Funny Time to Be Gay Ed Karvoski Jr. 1997

  • Growing up, Suzy Berger would cringe when she was called a thespian.

    A Funny Time to Be Gay Ed Karvoski Jr. 1997

  • Frankly I don't know why, it's not like his career has taken off in a different direction or anything, sure it's gone another way, but he's not become known as a thespian all of a sudden!

    ShowHype - Top Entertainment News, Videos, and Blogs 2008

  • Frankly I don't know why, it's not like his career has taken off in a different direction or anything, sure it's gone another way, but he's not become known as a thespian all of a sudden!

    Filmstalker 2008

  • Giamatti’s tormented thespian is attempting to survive an especially grueling stage production of “Uncle Vanya.”

    Current Movie Reviews, Independent Movies - Film Threat 2009

  • Very early I recall a thespian named Thoman, who was supported by a Julia Pelby.

    A Backward Glance at Eighty Murdock, Charles A 1921

  • AYH agree they shouldn't cut joffrey scene, and i also don't think they cut the hound. the cersei / luwin scene makes MUCH more sense, and would relate to the "world class thespian" not being in the pilot, but being in the series a little better than if the "thespian" were the hound.

    GRRM with a brief update 2009

  • I mean, putting lipstick on a drowning polar bear might create some special mutant kind of thespian polar bear that can act in live-action Coca Cola commercials and subsist entirely on spilled oil and cruise-ship exhaust.

    David Quigg: Is a Pig With Lipstick Really Still a Pig? 2008

  • While the readings may strike some as overly "thespian," they take on real drama with repeated listens.

    Songs From The Labyrinth 2006

Comments

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  • Mary Jo, you're looking thin

    You're reading a book, "The State I'm In"

    But oh, it doesn't help at all

    Cause what you want is a cigarette

    And a thespian with a Caravanette in Hull.

    (Mary Jo, by Belle and Sebastian)

    September 18, 2008

  • ACTING!

    February 18, 2009

  • BRILLIANT!

    February 18, 2009

  • I haven't heard this word used for the longest time. I'd almost forgotten it exists.

    February 18, 2009

  • ....aaaaaaaaaaand scene.

    *takes a bow*

    February 18, 2009

  • I thought it was a dirty word in primary school.

    February 19, 2009

  • Well, in primary school it might be, depending on the school.

    February 20, 2009

  • Haha! Just my thoughts.

    February 21, 2009