| 释义 |
▪ I. pantomime, n. (a.)|ˈpæntəmaɪm|
[ad. L. pantomīmus one who plays a part by dumb show, a ballet-dancer, ad. Gr. παντόµῑµος imitator of all, f. παντο- panto-, all + µῖµος mimic. So F. pantomime (1570 in Hatz.-Darm.); in Eng. the word was at first used in the L. form.]
1. A Roman actor, who performed in dumb show, representing by mimicry various characters and scenes; hence, generally, a mimic actor; one who represents his meaning by gestures and actions without words; a pantomimist. Now only Hist.
α1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. xi. (Arb.) 42 Betweene the actes when the players went to make ready for another,..and the people waxt weary, then came in these maner of conterfaite vices, they were called Pantomimi, and all that had before bene sayd,..they gaue a crosse construction to it very ridiculously. 1626Bacon Sylva §240. 1630 B. Jonson Love's Triumph §1 With antic gesticulation and action, after the manner of the old pantomimi, they dance over a distracted comedy of love. a1656Hales Gold. Rem. i. (1673) 160 A Panto-mimus, a Poppet-player and Dancer in Rome.
β1615R. Brathwait Strappado 126 In time No question but hee'l prooue true Pantomime, To imitate all formes, shapes, habits, tyres Suiting the Court. 1621Sanderson Serm. 1 Cor. vii. 24 (1681) 202, I would our Pantomimes also and Stage-players would examine themselves and their Callings by this Rule. 1678Butler Hud. iii. ii. 1287 Pantomimes Who vary Action with the Times. 1709Steele Tatler No. 51 ⁋4 This Pantomime may be said to be a Species of himself: He has no Commerce with the rest of Mankind, but as they are the Objects of Imitation. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xxxvi. (1869) II. 318 Buffoons and pantomimes are sometimes introduced, to divert, not to offend, the company. 1869Lecky Europ. Mor. I. xi. 277 The immense increase of corrupt and corrupting professions, as actors, pantomimes, hired gladiators.
2. ‘A kind of dramatic entertainment in which the performers express themselves by gestures to the accompaniment of music, and which may be called a prose ballet’ (Husk in Grove Dict. Mus.).
a1735Arbuthnot (J.), He put off the representation of pantomimes till late hours, on market-days. a1755(in Johnson), Exulting folly hail'd the joyful day, And pantomime and song confirm'd her sway. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1792) IV. 75 A great number of burlesque comedians entered the pales, in order to act one of their African drolls or pantomimes. a1842Arnold Later Rom. Commw. (1846) II. xi. 416 The exhibition of the pantomime was prohibited; an entertainment very different from that which is now known by the same name; and an outrage upon all decency. 1875A. W. Ward Eng. Dram. Lit. I. i. 8 In the early days of the Empire..the pantomime, a species of ballet of action, established itself as a favourite class of amusement.
3. a. An English dramatic performance, originally consisting of action without speech, but in its further development consisting of a dramatized tale, the dénouement of which is a transformation scene followed by the broad comedy of clown and pantaloon and the dancing of harlequin and columbine. Now a feature of the Christmas holidays.
By the 20th century, the traditional form changed, with the loss of the pantaloon and harlequin features. The entertainment, primarily for children, is now based on the dramatization of a fairy tale or nursery story, and includes songs and topical jokes, buffoonery and slapstick, and standard characters such as a pantomime ‘dame’, played by a man, a leading boy, played by a woman, and a pantomime animal, e.g. horse, cat, goose, played by actors dressed in a comic costume, with some regional variations.
1739Cibber Apol. (1756) II. 50 It may not..be..improper to shew how our childish pantomimes came to take so gross a possession of the stage. 1749Fielding Tom Jones v. i, The inventor of that most exquisite entertainment, called the English pantomime. 1780T. Davies Garrick (1781) I. x. 99 Rich [in 1717] created a species of dramatic composition unknown to this, and I believe, to any other country, which he called a pantomime: it consisted of two parts, one serious and the other comic. 1797Southey Joan of Arc Pref., After the publication of this poem, a pantomime upon the same subject was brought forward at Covent-Garden Theatre. 1807Director II. 331 Those very confined and partial transfigurations of our Harlequinades, termed Pantomimes. 1879Black Macleod of D. xxxiv. 307 It is like a pantomime. You would expect to see a burst of limelight and Neptune appearing with a silver trident and crown. 1880Husk in Grove Dict. Mus. II. 646/2 In the early pantomime Harlequin was the principal character, and continued so until the genius of Grimaldi placed the Clown in the most prominent position. 1892Daily News 24 Dec. 5/2 The pantomime has gradually interwoven itself into our recognised Christmas festivities, so as to become an essential part of them. 1896Pall Mall Mag. Oct. 302/1 She was still playing principal boy in the pantomime—a gay, gallant Prince, in plumed cap and tights. 1901R. J. Broadbent Hist. Pantomime xxi. 225 Present-day Pantomime, with the immense sums spent annually on its gorgeous spectacular display and costly dresses..is a subject that is well known to us all... The best parts are, as a general rule, allotted to music-hall ‘stars’ whose names will draw the most money. 1911Times 7 Nov. 9/4 Some of us would have passed through a childhood of tasteless pantomimes, lacking the most exciting of their three annual thrills, which were always the clown, the ‘principal boy’, and ‘Jimmie’ Glover. 1950Oxf. Jun. Encycl. IX. 273/2 Pantomimes of to-day are on a splendidly lavish scale, with hundreds of performers. They all have their stock characters... They provide many of the catch phrases and popular songs of the season during their long runs.., often from Christmas till Lent. 1965D. Arundell Story of Sadler's Wells xii. 149 Phelps began his 1847–8 season on 23rd August..with of course a grand pantomime at Christmas (pantomime now meaning the extravaganza fairy-tale as we under⁓stand it today). 1978Times Lit. Suppl. 24 Feb. 247/2 The town is agog over the annual pantomime which opens on Boxing Day.
b. transf. and fig.
1781G. Selwyn Let. 27 Feb. in 15th Rep. R. Comm. Hist. Manuscripts App. vi. 464 in Parl. Papers 1897 (C. 8551) LI. 1, I believe there is no actor upon the stage of either theatre who, repeating what the author has wrote, does not, at the same time, recite his own private sentiments oftener, than our pantomimes in Parliament. 1837Dickens Let. 13 Feb. (1965) I. 236 Oliver and the Pantomime of Life are both finished, and with the Printer. 1941Penguin New Writing III. 109 It's a proper pantomime. The old Tabbies'll have to mind their dignities if they steps out to-day. 1972Times 7 Aug. (Jamaica Suppl.) p. v/4 The uniquely Jamaican ‘pantomime’..has evolved into the musical comedy formula incorporating topical allusions..along with folklore characters.
4. Significant gesture without speech; dumb show.
1791Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest v, Peter acted a perfect pantomime. 1814Scott Wav. xxix, The entrance of Mrs. Cruickshanks..interrupted this pantomime of affectionate enthusiasm. 1871L. Stephen Playgr. Eur. (1894) v. 118 As..he could not speak a word of French..he was obliged to convey this sentiment into pantomime. 1873Ouida Pascarèl I. 42 Florio shrugged his shoulders with the most expressive pantomime in the world.
5. attrib. passing into adj.
a. Of the nature of pantomime (sense 2); pantomimic.
b. Of, belonging to, or characteristic of the pantomime (sense 3). Also Comb.
1746in Wesley's Wks. (1872) II. 40 An Obnubilative, Pantomime Entertainment to be exhibited at Mr. Clark's. 1755Richardson Corr. (1804) VI. 265, I am sorry that the visits between you and Miss Talbot were so very pantomime. 1765H. Timberlake Mem. 80 [The Cherokees] are..very dexterous at pantomime dances; several of which I have seen performed that were very diverting. 1777G. Forster Voy. round World I. 412 In the intervals of the dance three men performed something of a pantomime drama. 1838Dickens Nich. Nick. xxiii, Mr. Folair made a funny face from his pantomime collection. 1861Thackeray Four Georges iv. (1862) 222 The king in the pantomime, with his pantomime wife, and pantomime courtiers,..whom he pokes with his pantomime sceptre. 1883D. Cook On Stage I. x. 219 In the pantomime season, or whenever any great pageant or spectacle is to be produced, these plots are of prodigious extent. 1892Anstey Voces Pop. Ser. ii. 153 The Pit during Pantomime Time. 1901R. J. Broadbent Hist. Pantomime xix. 196 This clashing..cannot but..adversely affect the box-office receipts, unless, of course the Pantomime-goer makes a point of ‘doing the round’. 1908G. B. Shaw Pen Portraits (1932) 74 A pantomime animal with two men in it is a mistake when the two are not very carefully paired. 1919― Great Catherine 114 They..produced scene after scene of..tragic relief in the torture chamber with the monarch as pantomime demon committing real atrocities. 1922Joyce Ulysses 431 In pantomime dame's stringed mob⁓cap, crinoline and bustle, widow Twankey's blouse..and cameo brooch. 1935T. S. Eliot Murder in Cath. i. 41 All things are unreal, Unreal or disappointing; The Catherine wheel, the pantomime cat, The prizes given at the children's party. 1939― Old Possum's Pract. Cats 37 In the Pantomime season I never fell flat. 1946M. Dickens Happy Prisoner ix. 189 He had been afraid they were going to guy her up like a pantomime dame. 1967Listener 19 Oct. 513/2 Everyone will want to see Alec Guinness do his pantomime-dame act in Wise Child. 1973‘A. Hall’ Tango Briefing viii. 99 Whether you die like a man or the back end of a pantomime horse you're going to stop breathing. 1976M. Gilbert Night of Twelfth xvii. 156 Think of old Dip in a wig and falsies. He'd look like a pantomime dame.
▪ II. ˈpantomime, v.
[f. prec. n.]
1. intr. To express oneself by dumb show. Also, to behave as though in a pantomime.
1768[Donaldson] Sir B. Sapskull I. xviii. 174 An unhappy girl..for want of friends to appear, or money to pantomime in her favour, is hurried to gaol. 1888Sat. Rev. 24 Mar. 354 Where it is necessary for her to pantomime, the attitudes she assumes are in the best style of plastic art. 1958Spectator 8 Aug. 187/2 The vanity of a Lloyd George or a Ramsay MacDonald, who preferred pantomiming round the world in a continual circus to staying put where they belonged.
2. trans. To express or represent by pantomime or dumb show.
1847Lever Knt. of Gwynne lviii, Pantomiming the action of drinking with his now empty glass. 1852R. F. Burton Falconry Vall. Indus v. 55 He then placed his forefinger on his lips, pantomiming that a little ‘Bamboo-bakhshish’ had..stopped the unreasonable complainant's tongue. 1861D. Cook P. Foster's D. x, Septimus pantomimed deprecation of any such notions.
Hence ˈpantomimed ppl. a.
1950A. Ronell in Manvell & Huntley Technique Film Music (1957) iii. 137 His pantomimed thoughts find voice through the inflection of instruments whose colours express Harpo's spirited style. |