Association of British Scrabble Players

Culture > Literature > Drama


Now updated for CSW19. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.


agon the dramatic conflict between the chief characters in a literary work.
agonal relating to agon, the dramatic conflict between the chief characters in a literary work.
agonist a protagonist in a literary work.
anagnorisis (Greek) the moment of recognition or discovery (in a play, etc.).
antimask a secondary mask, or grotesque interlude, between the parts of a serious mask.
antimasque a secondary mask, or grotesque interlude, between the parts of a serious mask.
bioplay a play based on the life of a famous person, esp one giving a popular treatment.
boy a male child; (verb, Shakesp.) to play (a female part) as a boy.
catastasis the part of drama where action is at its height.
choragic of or pertaining to a choragus, the leader of chorus in ancient Greek drama.
choragus (Lat.) the leader of the chorus in ancient Greek drama.
choregic relating to a choregus, the financial backer in ancient Greece, usually of a play.
choregus (Lat.) the leader of the chorus in ancient Greek drama.
choric pertaining to the chorus in ancient Greek tragedy.
comedic of or relating to comedy.
comedically (Adv.) COMEDIC, of or relating to comedy.
comedietta (Ital.) a dramatic sketch; a brief comedy.
coryphaeus (Lat.) the leader of a Greek chorus.
coryphe (Arch.) the leader of the Greek chorus.
deuteragonist the actor taking the part of second importance in a classical Greek drama.
dramady a play with both drama and comedy.
dramatic pertaining to drama.
dramatical of or pertaining to the drama; theatrical.
dramatics the acting, production and study of plays.
dramatise to adapt to dramatic representation; as, to dramatize a novel.
dramatist the author of a dramatic composition; a writer of plays.
dramatize to adapt to dramatic representation; as, to dramatize a novel.
dramaturgic relating to dramaturgy.
dramaturgical related to dramaturgy.
dramaturgically (Adv.) DRAMATURGICAL, related to dramaturgy.
dramaturgy the art of producing and staging dramatic works.
dramedy a play with both drama and comedy.
duolog a dialogue between two actors.
duologue a dialogue between two actors.
epirrhema (Greek) in Greek comedy, the address of the coryphaeus to the audience after the parabasis.
epirrhematic of or like an epirrhema, in Greek comedy, the address of the coryphaeus to the audience after the parabasis.
epitasis the part of the play developing the main action and leading to the catastrophe.
exeunt (Lat.) (stage direction) they go out.
exode (Greek) the concluding part of a Greek drama, a farce or afterpiece.
exodos (Greek) a concluding dramatic scene.
hamartia (Greek) a tragic flaw in the hero of a Greek play, that leads to his undoing.
kabuki (Japanese) a formal, stylized form of Japanese drama.
kathakali (Malay) a highly stylized form of S. Indian drama, using dance and mime.
kyogen (Japanese) a comic interlude between Noh plays.
lazzo (Ital.) a piece of farce or comic dialogue.
legit (Short for) legitimate; (noun) legitimate drama.
manent (Lat.) a stage direction, they remain on stage.
manet (Lat.) a stage direction, he or she remains on stage. No -S.
masque a dramatic entertainment formerly popular in England.
melodrama a kind of romantic and sensational drama.
melodrame a kind of romantic and sensational drama.
monodrama a one-man show; a play having only one actor.
nogaku (Japanese) a traditional Japanese style of drama, aka noh No -S.
noh a traditional style of Japanese drama No -S.
nonplay a theatrical work that is not a play.
parabasis (Greek) a speech in Greek drama where the chorus advances and addresses the audience.
parodos (Greek) an ode sung in ancient Greek drama.
peripeteia (Greek) a sudden and violent change in circumstances, esp in drama.
peripeteian of or like a peripeteia, a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation.
peripetia (Greek) a sudden and violent change in circumstances, esp in drama.
peripetian of or like a peripeteia, a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation.
peripety (Greek) a sudden and violent change in circumstances, esp in drama.
proscenium the part of the stage in front of the curtain.
protatic of or pertaining to the protasis of an ancient play; introductory.
psychodrama therapeutic drama.
psychodramatic relating to psychodrama.
singspiel (Ger.) a semi-dramatic play in dialogue and song.
solus a poster or advertisement appearing in isolation from any others.
soubrette (Fr.) a coquettish and intriguing maid; such a role in drama.
tetralogy a series of four connected literary, artistic, or musical works.
thalian of or pertaining to comedy.
tragicomedy a drama or a situation blending tragic and comic elements.
tragicomic part tragic, part comic.
tragicomical part tragic, part comic.
tritagonist in Greek drama, the actor who plays the role third in importance in a play.