This week’s theme
Eponyms

This week’s words
Machiavellianism
Don Quixote
thespian
epicure
Momus

---

A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(THES-pee-uhn)

MEANING:

noun: An actor.
adjective: Relating to drama.

ETYMOLOGY:

After Thespis (c. 6th century BCE), Greek poet, who is considered the father of Greek tragedy. Earliest documented use: 1675.

NOTES:

It’s believed that Thespis became the first actor when he jumped on a wooden cart and recited lines from his poetry as if he was the character saying those lines, instead of a poet reading a poem. Then he went around from town to town with his costumes and props. Well, that makes him the first touring actor as well. His name literally means inspired by the gods.

USAGE:

“Ms Streep, a masterful thespian with chameleonic powers.”
Two Faces of a Star; The Economist (London, UK); Dec 4, 2021.

See more usage examples of thespian in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: