- mystery play
- noun Etymology: 2mystery Date: 1852 a medieval drama based on scriptural incidents (as the creation of the world, the Flood, or the life, death, and resurrection of Christ) — compare miracle play
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
mystery play
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Mystery play — Mystery plays and miracle plays (which are two different things) are among the earliest formally developed plays in medieval Europe. Medieval mystery plays focused on the representation of Bible stories in churches as tableaux with accompanying… … Wikipedia
mystery play — n [Date: 1800 1900; : French; Origin: mystère, from Latin mysterium; MYSTERY] a religious play from the Middle Ages, based on a story from the Bible … Dictionary of contemporary English
mystery play — n. any of a class of medieval dramatic representations of Biblical events, esp. of the life and death of Jesus: they originated in the church liturgy but were later presented by craft guilds in marketplaces, etc.: cf. MIRACLE PLAY, MORALITY PLAY … English World dictionary
mystery play — mystery ,play noun count a play from the Middle Ages about a story in the Bible … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
mystery play — ► NOUN ▪ a popular medieval play based on biblical stories or the lives of the saints … English terms dictionary
mystery play — a medieval dramatic form based on a Biblical story, usually dealing with the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Cf. miracle play, morality play. [1850 55] * * * Vernacular drama of the Middle Ages. It developed from the liturgical drama and … Universalium
mystery play — noun a medieval play representing episodes from the life of Christ • Hypernyms: ↑play, ↑drama, ↑dramatic play * * * noun, pl ⋯ plays [count] : a religious play in the Middle Ages based on a story from the Bible (such as the creation of the world… … Useful english dictionary
mystery play — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms mystery play : singular mystery play plural mystery plays a play from the Middle Ages about a story in the Bible … English dictionary
Mystery play — These plays, associated esp. with the feast of Corpus Christi, were called mystery plays because they were put on by the *mystery, i.e. members of a *guild. They may have developed from liturgical drama acted within the church, or from religious… … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
mystery play — Synonyms and related words: Grand Guignol, Passion play, Tom show, antimasque, audience success, ballet, bomb, broadcast drama, burlesque show, charade, cliff hanger, closet drama, comedy drama, critical success, daytime serial, dialogue,… … Moby Thesaurus
mystery play — mys′tery play n. lit.+rel a medieval drama based on a Bible story, usu. about Christ Compare miracle play morality play • Etymology: 1850–55 … From formal English to slang
