Histrionic — His tri*on ic, Histrionical His tri*on ic*al, a. [L. histrionicus: cf. F. histrionique. See {Histrion}.] 1. Of or relating to the stage or a stageplayer; befitting a theatre; theatrical. [1913 Webster] 2. Affectedly dramatic; insincerely… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
histrionic — I adjective affected, aiming for effect, artificial, dramatic, embroidered, exaggerated, exhibitionistic, insincere, mannered, melodramatic, orotund, ostentatious, overacted, pretentious, scaenicus, self conscious, showy, stagy, stilted, striving … Law dictionary
histrionic — theatrical (figuratively, hypocritical ), 1640s, from L. histrionicus pertaining to an actor, from histrio (gen. histrionis) actor, said to be of Etruscan origin. The literal sense in English is from 1759 … Etymology dictionary
histrionic — adj *dramatic, theatrical, dramaturgic, melodramatic Analogous words: acting, playing, inpersonating (see ACT vb) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
histrionic — [adj] overly dramatic melodramatic, overacting, overplayed, theatrical, thespian; concepts 537,548 … New thesaurus
histrionic — ► ADJECTIVE 1) overly theatrical or melodramatic. 2) formal of or concerning actors or acting. ► NOUN (histrionics) ▪ dramatized behaviour designed to attract attention. DERIVATIVES histrionically adverb. ORIG … English terms dictionary
histrionic — [his΄trē än′ik] adj. [LL histrionicus < L histrio, actor; ult. of Etr orig.] 1. of, or having the nature of, acting or actors 2. overacted or overacting; theatrical; artificial; affected histrionically adv … English World dictionary
histrionic — [[t]hɪ̱striɒ̱nɪk[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n (disapproval) If you refer to someone s behaviour as histrionic, you are critical of it because it is very dramatic, exaggerated, and insincere. Dorothea let out a histrionic groan … English dictionary
histrionic — his·tri·on·ic (his″tre onґik) excessively dramatic or emotional; of or relating to the behavioral characteristics of histrionic personality disorder (q.v.) … Medical dictionary
histrionic — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) adj. theatrical; affected, exaggerated, dramatic. See drama, affectation. II (Roget s IV) modif. Syn. dramatic, melodramatic, artificial, theatrical; see affected 2 . III (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus)… … English dictionary for students
