Fourth unit spectacle (1)

The Odyssey of words First unit: entertainment – spectacle 1.

θέατρο

The word theater comes from the ancient Greek word «θέατρον» (theatron) = theater, which comes from the ancient Greek verb «θεώμαι» (Greek pronounciation: theome) = to behold (related to «θέα» [thea] = view) + -tron = suffix denoting place.

2.

αμφιθέατρο

The word amphitheater comes from the Greek «αμφιθέατρον» (amphitheatron) = “double theater", neuter of the adjective «αμφιθέατρος» (amphitheatros) = "with spectators all around".

It’s a compound word from the preposition «αμφί» (amphi) = "on both sides" + the noun «θέατρον» (theatron) = "theater".

Classical theaters were semi-circles, thus two together made an amphi-theater. They were used by the Romans especially for gladiatorial contests and combats of wild beasts.

3.

δράμα

The word drama comes from Greek «δράμα» (drama) (genitive dra matos) ="play, action" from the verb «δρω» (dro) = "do, act, perform" (especially some great deed, whether good or bad).

4.

δραματικός

The word dramatic comes from the Greek adjective «δραματικός» (dramatikos), from «δράμα» - drama (genitive dramatos).

5.

μελόδραμα

The word melodrama comes from Greek «μέλος» (melos) = "song" + «δράμα» (drama).

It means "a romantic and sensational dramatic piece with a happy ending», because this was often the form of the original melodramas.

6.

τραγωδία

The word tragedy comes from Greek «τραγωδία» (tragodia) = "a dramatic poem in formal language having an unhappy resolution," apparently literally "goat song," from «τράγος» (tragos) = "goat" + «ωδή» (ode) = song.

Linda Alexopoulou – Theodoros Tomaras

Page 1

The Odyssey of words The connection may be via satyric drama, from which tragedy later developed, in which actors or singers were dressed in goatskins to represent satyrs.

7.

τραγικός

The word tragic means "calamitous, disastrous, fatal". It comes from the Greek adjective «τραγικός» (tragikos) = "of or pertaining to tragedy" literally "goatish, of or pertaining to a goat".

8.

κωμωδία

The word comedy comes from the ancient Greek word «κώμος» (komos) = "revel, carousal, merry-making, festival," + «άδω» = "sing," related to «ωδή» (ode) =song.

The classical sense of the word, was "amusing play or performance," which is similar to the modern one.

9.

κωμικός

The word comedian and the adjective comic comes from Greek «κωμικός» (komikos) = “of or pertaining to comedy" from «κῶμος» (komos).

The Kōmos (Ancient Greek: κῶμος) was a ritualistic drunken procession performed by revelers in ancient Greece, whose participants were known as komasts (κωμασταί, kōmastaí). Its precise nature has been difficult to reconstruct from the diverse literary sources and evidence derived from vase painting.

10. παρωδία The word parody comes from Greek «παρωδία» = "burlesque song or poem," from the preposition «παρά» (para-) = "beside, parallel to" + «ωδή» = "song, ode".

11. χαρακτήρας The word character comes from the ancient Greek noun «χαρακτήρ» (kharakter). Χαρακτήρ comes from the ancient Greek verb «χαράσσω» (kharassο) "to engrave ".

12. μονόλογος The word monologue meaning "long speech by one person," comes from Greek μονόλογος (monologos) = "speaking alone". It’s a compound word from the ancient Greek «μόνος» (monos) = "single, alone" + «λόγος» (logos) = "speech, word," from the verb «λέγω» (lego) = "to speak".

13. διάλογος The word dialogue meaning "literary work consisting of a conversation between two or more persons," is a compound word. It comes from the Greek preposition «δια» (dia) = "across» + the verb «λέγω» (lego) = "speak".

Linda Alexopoulou – Theodoros Tomaras

Page 2

The Odyssey of words 14. cinema The word cinema comes from the Greek word «κίνημα» (kinema) = "movement," from the verb «κινώ» (kinο) = “to move".

15. τηλεόραση The word television comes from Greek «τηλε» (tele) meaning far + «vision» from the Latin noun «visio» (which comes from the verb «video») = to see. In Greek visio is translated with the word «όραση».

16. τηλεοπτική σειρά (Television) series is "a number or set of things of one kind arranged in a line," and comes from the ancient Greek verb «είρω» meaning "to fasten together in rows".

17. επεισόδιο Episode was "commentary between two choric songs in a Greek tragedy". It comes directly from Greek «επεισόδιον» (epeisodion), from the Greek preposition «επί» (epi) = "in addition" + «είσοδος» (isodos) = entrance.

18. πρωταγωνιστής The word protagonist means "principal character in a story, drama, etc. " and comes from the Greek word «πρωταγωνιστής» (protagonistes) = "actor who plays the chief or first part". It’s a compound word from the ancient Greek adjective «πρώτος» (protos) meaning "first" + the Greek noun «αγωνιστής» (agonistes) = "actor, competitor," which comes from «αγών» (agon) = "contest".

19. παντομίμα The word pantomime comes from Greek «παντόμιμος» (pantomimos) = "actor," literally "imitator of all," from παντο- (panto-), genitive of the Greek adjectiv «παν» (pan) = "all" + «μίμος» (mimos) = "imitator".

Linda Alexopoulou – Theodoros Tomaras

Page 3