proscenium

Alternative forms

• proscænium

Etymology

From Latin proscaenium (“in front of the scenery”), from Ancient Greek προσκήνιον (proskḗnion), from πρό (pró, “before”) + σκηνή (skēnḗ, “scene building”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹəʊˈsiː.ni.əm/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pɹoʊˈsiː.ni.əm/

Noun

proscenium (plural prosceniums or proscenia)

1. (in a modern theater) The stage area between the curtain and the orchestra.
2. (in an ancient theater) The stage area immediately in front of the scene building.
3. (in an ancient theater) The row of columns at the front the scene building, at first directly behind the circular orchestra but later upon a stage.
   • 1936, Roy C. Flickinger, The Greek Theater and Its Drama, 4th edition, page 58

     The front of the scene-building and of the parascenia came to be decorated with a row of columns, the proscenium (πρό, "before"+σκηνή).

4. A proscenium arch.
   • 1979, J.G. Ballard, The Unlimited Dream Company, chapter 19:

     Screamers trumpeted from the roof of the supermarket, white storks rattled their bills as their surveyed the town from the proscenium of the filling-station.

Noun

proscenium n (singular definite prosceniet, plural indefinite proscenier)

1. proscenium