Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Pantomime
Pan′to-mime
,Noun.
[F., fr. L.
pantomimus
, Gr. [GREEK], lit., all-imitating; πᾶς
, παντός
, all + [GREEK] to imitate: cf. It. pantomimo
. See Mimic
.] 1.
A universal mimic; an actor who assumes many parts; also, any actor.
[Obs.]
2.
One who acts his part by gesticulation or dumb show only, without speaking; a pantomimist; a mime.
[He] saw a
pantomime
perform so well that he could follow the performance from the action alone. Tylor.
4.
A dramatic and spectacular entertainment of which dumb acting as well as burlesque dialogue, music, and dancing by Clown, Harlequin, etc., are features.
Pan′to-mime
,Adj.
Representing only in mute actions; pantomimic;
as, a
. pantomime
danceWebster 1828 Edition
Pantomime
PAN'TOMIME
,Noun.
1.
One that imitates all sorts of actions and characters without speaking; one that expresses his meaning by mute action. The pantomimes of antiquity used to express in gestures and action, whatever the chorus sung, changing their countenance and behavior as the subject of the song varied.2.
A scene or representation in dumb show.3.
A species of musical entertainment.PAN'TOMIME
,Adj.
Definition 2024
Pantomime
Pantomime
See also: pantomime
German
Noun
Pantomime f (genitive Pantomime, plural Pantomimen)
- pantomime (type of entertainment where players act out ideas without use of their voice)
Derived terms
- pantomimisch
pantomime
pantomime
See also: Pantomime
English
Noun
pantomime (plural pantomimes)
- (now rare) A Classical comic actor, especially one who works mainly through gesture and mime. [from 17th c.]
- Tylor
- [He] saw a pantomime perform so well that he could follow the performance from the action alone.
- Tylor
- (historical) The drama in ancient Greece and Rome featuring such performers; or (later) any of various kinds of performance modelled on such work. [from 17th c.]
- (Britain) A traditional theatrical entertainment, originally based on the commedia dell'arte, but later aimed mostly at children and involving physical comedy, topical jokes, call and response, and fairy-tale plots. [from 18th c.]
- 2011 October 20, Michael da Silva, “Stoke 3 - 0 Macc Tel-Aviv”, in BBC Sport:
- With the Stoke supporters jeering Ziv's every subsequent touch, the pantomime atmosphere created by the home crowd reached a crescendo when Ziv was shown a straight red shortly after the break in extraordinary circumstances.
-
- Gesturing without speaking; dumb-show, mime. [from 18th c.]
- 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 26
- A staid, steadfast man, whose life for the most part was a telling pantomime of action, and not a tame chapter of sounds.
- 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 26:
- In pantomime, Chief Joyi would fling his spear and creep along the veld as he narrated the victories and defeats.
- 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 26
Derived terms
Related terms
See also
Translations
A traditional Christmas entertainment, mostly for children
gesturing without speaking
|
See also
Verb
pantomime (third-person singular simple present pantomimes, present participle pantomiming, simple past and past participle pantomimed)
- (transitive) To make (a gesture) without speaking.
- I pantomimed steering a car; he understood, and tossed the keys to me.
- (transitive) To entertain others by silent gestures or actions. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
Translations
to gesture without speaking
to entertain others by gestures or actions