Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Scene

Scene

,
Noun.
[L.
scaena
,
scena
, Gr.
σκηνή
a covered place, a tent, a stage.]
1.
The structure on which a spectacle or play is exhibited; the part of a theater in which the acting is done, with its adjuncts and decorations; the stage.
2.
The decorations and fittings of a stage, representing the place in which the action is supposed to go on; one of the slides, or other devices, used to give an appearance of reality to the action of a play;
as, to paint
scenes
; to shift the
scenes
; to go behind the
scenes
.
3.
So much of a play as passes without change of locality or time, or important change of character; hence, a subdivision of an act; a separate portion of a play, subordinate to the act, but differently determined in different plays;
as, an act of four
scenes
.
My dismal
scene
I needs must act alone.
Shakespeare
4.
The place, time, circumstance, etc., in which anything occurs, or in which the action of a story, play, or the like, is laid; surroundings amid which anything is set before the imagination; place of occurrence, exhibition, or action.
“In Troy, there lies the scene.”
Shak.
The world is a vast
scene
of strife.
J. M. Mason.
5.
An assemblage of objects presented to the view at once; a series of actions and events exhibited in their connection; a spectacle; a show; an exhibition; a view.
Through what new
scenes
and changes must we pass!
Addison.
6.
A landscape, or part of a landscape; scenery.
A sylvan
scene
with various greens was drawn,
Shades on the sides, and in the midst a lawn.
Dryden.
7.
An exhibition of passionate or strong feeling before others; often, an artifical or affected action, or course of action, done for effect; a theatrical display.
Probably no lover of
scenes
would have had very long to wait for some explosions between parties, both equally ready to take offense, and careless of giving it.
De Quincey.
Behind the scenes
,
behind the scenery of a theater; out of the view of the audience, but in sight of the actors, machinery, etc.; hence, conversant with the hidden motives and agencies of what appears to public view.

Scene

,
Verb.
T.
To exhibit as a scene; to make a scene of; to display.
[Obs.]
Abp. Sancroft.

Webster 1828 Edition


Scene

SCENE

,
Noun.
[L. scena; Gr. Heb. The Greek word signifies a tent, hut or cottage. In L. it is an arbor or stage. The primary sense is to set or throw down.]
1.
A stage; the theater or place where dramatic pieces and other shows are exhibited. It does not appear that the ancients changed the scenes in different parts of the play. Indeed the original scene for acting was an open plat of ground, shaded or slightly covered.
2.
The whole series of actions and events connected and exhibited; or the whole assemblage of objects displayed at one view. Thus we say, the execution of a malefactor is a melancholy scene. The crucifixion of our Saviour was the most solemn scene ever presented to the view of man.
We say also, a scene of sorrow or of rejoicing, a noble scene, a sylvan scene.
A charming scene of nature is display'd.
3.
A part of a play; a division of an act. A play is divided into acts, and acts are divided into scenes.
4.
So much of an act of a play as represents what passes between the same persons in the same place.
5.
The place represented by the sate. The scene was laid in the king's palace.
6.
The curtain or hanging of a theater adapted to the play.
7.
The place where any thing is exhibited.
The world is a vast scene of strife.
8.
Any remarkable exhibition.
The shepherds, while watching their flocks upon the plains of Bethehem, were suddenly interrupted by one of the most sublime and surprising scenes which have ever been exhibited on earth.

Definition 2024


scene

scene

See also: scène

English

Alternative forms

Noun

scene (plural scenes)

  1. The location of an event that attracts attention.
    the scene of the crime
  2. (theater) The structure on which a spectacle or play is exhibited; the part of a theater in which the acting is done, with its adjuncts and decorations; the stage.
    They stood in the centre of the scene.
  3. The decorations and fittings of a stage, representing the place in which the action is supposed to go on; one of the slides, or other devices, used to give an appearance of reality to the action of a play; as, to paint scenes; to shift the scenes; to go behind the scenes.
  4. So much of a play as passes without change of locality or time, or important change of character; hence, a subdivision of an act; a separate portion of a play, subordinate to the act, but differently determined in different plays; as, an act of four scenes.
    • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, in The Affair at the Novelty Theatre:
      Miss Phyllis Morgan, as the hapless heroine dressed in the shabbiest of clothes, appears in the midst of a gay and giddy throng; she apostrophises all and sundry there, including the villain, and has a magnificent scene which always brings down the house, and nightly adds to her histrionic laurels.
    The play is divided into three acts, and in total twenty-five scenes.
    The most moving scene is the final one, where he realizes he has wasted his whole life.
    There were some very erotic scenes in the movie, although it was not classified as pornography.
  5. The place, time, circumstance, etc., in which anything occurs, or in which the action of a story, play, or the like, is laid; surroundings amid which anything is set before the imagination; place of occurrence, exhibition, or action.
    • Shakespeare
      In Troy, there lies the scene.
    • J. M. Mason
      The world is a vast scene of strife.
  6. An assemblage of objects presented to the view at once; a series of actions and events exhibited in their connection; a spectacle; a show; an exhibition; a view.
    He assessed the scene to check for any danger, and agreed it was safe.
    • Addison
      Through what new scenes and changes must we pass!
  7. A landscape, or part of a landscape; scenery.
    • Dryden
      A sylvan scene with various greens was drawn, / Shades on the sides, and in the midst a lawn.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess:
      He turned back to the scene before him and the enormous new block of council dwellings. The design was some way after Corbusier but the block was built up on plinths and resembled an Atlantic liner swimming diagonally across the site.
  8. An exhibition of passionate or strong feeling before others, creating embarrassment or disruption; often, an artificial or affected action, or course of action, done for effect; a theatrical display; make, create, cause a scene.
    They saw an angry scene outside the pub.
    The crazy lady made a scene in the grocery store.
    • De Quincey
      Probably no lover of scenes would have had very long to wait or some explosions between parties, both equally ready to take offence, and careless of giving it.
  9. An element of fiction writing.
  10. A social environment consisting of an informal, vague group of people with a uniting interest; their sphere of activity; a subculture.
    She got into the emo scene at an early age.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Verb

scene (third-person singular simple present scenes, present participle scening, simple past and past participle scened)

  1. (transitive) To exhibit as a scene; to make a scene of; to display.

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: ill · eat · et · #844: scene · hot · I'd · fifty

Anagrams


Italian

Noun

scene f pl

  1. plural of scena

Middle French

Etymology

First known attestation 1486[1], borrowing from Latin scaena[2].

Noun

scene f

  1. stage (location where a play, etc., takes place)

References

  1. (fr) Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle (1881) (scene, supplement)
  2. scene” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σκηνή (skēnḗ, scene, stage), via Latin scaena

Alternative forms

Noun

scene m (definite singular scenen, indefinite plural scener, definite plural scenene)

  1. a stage (in a theatre)
  2. a scene (in a film or play)

Derived terms

References


Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σκηνή (skēnḗ, scene, stage), via Latin scaena

Alternative forms

Noun

scene m (definite singular scenen, indefinite plural scenar, definite plural scenane)
scene f (definite singular scena, indefinite plural scener, definite plural scenene)

  1. a stage (in a theatre)
  2. a scene (in a film or play)

Derived terms

References


Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *skauniz

Adjective

scēne

  1. Alternative form of scīene