a performance or entertainment popular in the medieval period, usually associated with Whitsuntide.

a performance or entertainment popular in the medieval period; = king play n.

A drama representing historical events; a historical play, esp. one originally performed for the Elizabethan or Jacobean stage; cf. comedy, n.1 2, tr…

an Elizabethan descriptive title for plays based on historical matter such as is found in Edward Hall and Ralph Holinshed.

The unchanging, repetitive song of a bird (in quot.: a cuckoo). Cf. monologist, n. 1. Obsolete.

Play in which a horse is used or takes part; theatrical horsemanship. Also transferred. Obsolete.

A literary work portraying the lives of fishermen or anglers. Cf. pastoral, n. 3a. rare.

etc., one which forms part of a répertoire.

A minor dramatic performance.

= mime, n.1 1a. Obsolete.

a play containing popular songs.

a dramatic farce containing popular songs.

colloquial. An artistic, literary, or other creative work produced solely to make the originator a living by catering to popular taste, without…

A dramatic piece for a single performer, originally with spoken text and musical accompaniment (cf. melodrama, n. 1); an operatic work for one…

A composition, literary, musical or dramatic, of an extravagant or fantastic character.

a drama in which the actors are gods.

= monodrama, n.

A play, esp. a French play, which uses a proverb as the foundation of the plot. Now chiefly historical.

A bespeaking; esp. the bespeaking of a particular play to be performed; hence, a benefit night, when the actor's friends and patrons choose the play.

a benefit performance: see quot. 1812.

A miniature or insignificant drama.

A dramatic entertainment in which a single performer takes the part of all the characters involved. Also in extended use.

A play, literary work, musical composition, etc., written for a particular occasion.

A dramatic or mimic representation, usually of a light or humorous character, such as was commonly introduced between the acts of the long…

Classical History. A simple, usually farcical drama characterized by mimicry and the ludicrous representation of familiar types of character; the…

a play or (occasionally) film, etc., set in a particular historical period and characterized by the use of costumes typical of that era.

A traditional play of a type performed by mummers esp. at the major holidays and popular in England from the 18th cent.

a drama representing historical events; = sense 4.

a ‘piece’ or play in which ‘gag’ is freely used.

An opera whose style and structure are governed by considerations of dramatic effectiveness rather than by formal operatic convention; the genre…

Of a play, novel, etc.: written in a formulaic manner which aims at neatness of plot and foregrounding of dramatic incident rather than…

A short or insubstantial play.

transferred and figurative. Something consisting of two ranges or divisions, as a tram-car with seats on the roof and an additional roof over them…

Representation of slum life or conditions.

A dramatic piece performed by children.

Thrilling property (of a play, novel, narrative, speech, etc.); sensational quality; transferred (slang), a literary work having this property, a…

Theatrical slang. A ‘knockabout’ performer or performance: see A. 1b. Also transferred.

(a) a two-handed sword; (b) Theatre a play with a cast of two.

a small play acted in front of the curtain.

One who or that which thrills; spec. (slang or colloquial) a sensational play, film, or story (cf. shocker, n.2 1a).

a play in which the actors appear as shadows cast upon a screen placed between the stage and the auditorium; also, a puppet play of the shadow…

(a) a play in which a particular problem is treated or discussed; (b) a play which is difficult to classify as belonging to a particular genre…

A play or other production consisting of only one act. Also figurative.

(a) a drama about sex, or having sexual content; (b) play having a sexual nature, spec. sexual activity that does not involve intercourse.

attributive and in other combinations, as chronicle-sheet, chronicle-writer. In chronicle drama, etc., used in imitation of chronicle history n. at…

a play composed with the purpose of maintaining a thesis, a tendency-play; so thesis-playwright.

a play, film, etc., designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.

a traditional type of play.

(a) a play performed and broadcast on radio; (b) time devoted to the playing of recorded music on radio; airplay.

U.S. Theatre. A short play or sketch, typically a condensed version of a longer work. Cf. tabloid, n. 2. Now historical.

= one-acter, n.

A play which intentionally puts forward a particular thesis or opinion, esp. a social or political one. Cf. thesis-play n. at thesis, n. compounds 2.

a rendering through dancing of a dramatic situation.

The plotting of a play, film, etc. Only in a mess of plottage: a convoluted or poorly constructed dramatic plot; a play with such a plot.

U.S. slang. An inferior or unsuccessful cinematographic or theatrical production, a flop; hence, anything disappointing or of little value.

A sentimental film, story, play, etc.; a ‘tear-jerker’.

Originally U.S. A play or film in which singing and dancing play an essential part; a musical comedy.

A tense or dramatic ending to an episode of a series of films, television programmes, books, etc., which leaves the audience in suspense and…

= weepie, n. colloquial.

something (rarely someone) that inspires excitement and terror; esp. a horror or suspense story, film, etc.

Originally slang. A play or film which stars a specified actor; a star vehicle for a particular actor.

slang. Something licentious or risqué (esp. a book or play).

(a) a play shown on television, esp. one made or written for that medium rather than for performance in a theatre; (in early use also) a video…

a straw-hat theatre, or play presented in one.

A play or film with a sombre or macabre theme. Cf. film noir, n. adj.

A light or entertaining play or film; a comedy.

A short version of a musical, esp. one performed by a travelling company.

(a) see 10; (b) a subject for conversation; something to talk about; (c) a piece of conversation; a dialogue; (d) (see quot. 1952).

A play, film, novel, etc., in which psychological elements are the main interest.

A story, play, or film in which the main interest lies in the detection of the motive for some crime or other action.

A play in which a mystery is investigated or solved. rare.

Chiefly British. Designating a work of fiction, drama, etc., of a type thought to reflect, satirize, or comment on the society in which it is…