%drama%

n. [ L. drama, Gr. dra^ma, fr. dra^n to do, act; cf. Lith. daryti. ] 1. A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action, and intended to exhibit a picture of human life, or to depict a series of grave or humorous actions of more than ordinary interest, tending toward some striking result. It is commonly designed to be spoken and represented by actors on the stage. [ 1913 Webster ]

A divine pastoral drama in the Song of Solomon. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A series of real events invested with a dramatic unity and interest. “The drama of war.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Westward the course of empire takes its way;
The four first acts already past,
A fifth shall close the drama with the day;
Time's noblest offspring is the last. Berkeley. [ 1913 Webster ]

The drama and contrivances of God's providence. Sharp. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Dramatic composition and the literature pertaining to or illustrating it; dramatic literature. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The principal species of the drama are tragedy and comedy; inferior species are tragi-comedy, melodrama, operas, burlettas, and farces. [ 1913 Webster ]

The romantic drama, the kind of drama whose aim is to present a tale or history in scenes, and whose plays (like those of Shakespeare, Marlowe, and others) are stories told in dialogue by actors on the stage. J. A. Symonds.

{ } a. [ Gr. dramatiko`s, fr. dra^ma: cf. F. dramatique. ] Of or pertaining to the drama; as, dramatic arts. [ wns=3 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. suitable to or characteristic of or having the qualities of, a drama; theatrical; as, a dramatic entrance in a swirling cape; a dramatic rescue at sea. Opposite of undramatic. [ wns=1 ] [ Narrower terms: melodramatic; awe-inspiring, spectacular ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

The emperor . . . performed his part with much dramatic effect. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. striking in appearance or effect; vivid; having a thrilling effect; as, a dramatic sunset; a dramatic pause. [ wns=2 ]
Syn. -- spectacular, striking. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. (Music) marked by power and expressiveness and a histrionic or theatrical style; -- of a singer or singing voice; as, a dramatic tenor; a dramatic soprano. Contrasted to lyric. [ wns=4 ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In a dramatic manner; theatrically; vividly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. same as dramatization.
Syn. -- dramatization. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖ [ L. ] The actors in a drama or play. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. dramatiste. ] The author of a dramatic composition; a writer of plays. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being dramatized. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act of dramatizing; a dramatic representation. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dramatized p. pr. & vb. n. Dramatizing ] [ Cf. F. dramatiser. ] To compose in the form of the drama; to represent in a drama; to adapt to dramatic representation; as, to dramatize a novel, or an historical episode. [ 1913 Webster ]

They dramatized tyranny for public execration. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to dramaturgy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One versed in dramaturgy. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; dramatic composition; &unr_; drama + a root akin to E. work: cf. F. dramaturgie. ] The art of dramatic composition and representation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. mélodrame, fr. Gr. me`los song + dra^ma drama. ] Formerly, a kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes. Now, a drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations, with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially thrilling or pathetic. In opera, a passage in which the orchestra plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks; as, the melodrama in the gravedigging scene of Beethoven's “Fidelio”. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. mélodramatique. ] Of or pertaining to melodrama; like or suitable to a melodrama; unnatural in situation or action. -- Mel`o*dra*mat"ic*al*ly adv. [1913 Webster]

n. One who acts in, or writes, melodramas. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to a monodrama. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Mono- + Gr. &unr_; drama. ] A drama acted, or intended to be acted, by a single person. [ 1913 Webster ]

. An opera in which the text and action are not interrupted by set arias, duets, etc., the music being determined throughout by dramatic appropriateness; musical drama of this character, in general. It involves the use of a kind of melodious declamation, the development of leitmotif, great orchestral elaboration, and a fusion of poetry, music, action, and scene into an organic whole. The term is applied esp. to the later works of Wagner: “Tristan und Isolde, ” “Die Meistersinger, ” “Rheingold, ” “Walküre, ” “Siegfried, ” “Götterdämmerung, ” and “Parsifal.” [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. to present in an overly dramatic manner. [ WordNet 1.5 ]