Theater is defined as a building where plays are performed or movies are shown, or refers to performances of plays, or to a career of performing in plays.
(noun)See theater in Webster's New World College Dictionary
or theatre
noun
Origin: ME theatre < OFr < L theatrum < Gr theatron < base of theasthai, to see, view < IE base *dhāu-, to see > Gr thauma, miracle
See theater in American Heritage Dictionary 4
or the·a·tre
nounOrigin:
Origin: Middle English theatre
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Latin theātrum
Origin: , from Greek theātron
Origin: , from theāsthai, to watch
Origin: , from theā, a viewing
. Word History: Theories about the development of the theater in the West generally begin with Greek drama; this is etymologically appropriate as well as historically correct, since the words theory and theater are related through their Greek sources. The Greek ancestor of theater is theātron, “a place for seeing, especially for dramatic representation, theater.” Theātron is derived from the verb theāsthai, “to gaze at, contemplate, view as spectators, especially in the theater,” from theā, “a viewing.” The Greek ancestor of theory is theōriā, which meant among other things “the sending of theōroi (state ambassadors sent to consult oracles or attend games),” “the act of being a spectator at the theater or games,” “viewing,” “contemplation by the mind,” and “theory or speculation.” The source of theōriā is theōros, “an envoy sent to consult an oracle, spectator,” a compound of theā, “viewing,” and -oros, “seeing.” It is thus fitting to elaborate theories about culture while seeing a play in a theater.Learn more about theater
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