Hypertext Webster Gateway: "comedy"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Drama \Dra"ma\ (?; 277), n. [L. drama, Gr. ?, fr. ? to do, act;
cf. Lith. daryti.]
1. A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action,
and intended to exhibit a picture of human life, or to
depict a series of grave or humorous actions of more than
ordinary interest, tending toward some striking result. It
is commonly designed to be spoken and represented by
actors on the stage.

A divine pastoral drama in the Song of Solomon.
--Milton.

2. A series of real events invested with a dramatic unity and
interest. ``The drama of war.'' --Thackeray.

Westward the course of empire takes its way; The
four first acts already past, A fifth shall close
the drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is
the last. --Berkeley.

The drama and contrivances of God's providence.
--Sharp.

3. Dramatic composition and the literature pertaining to or
illustrating it; dramatic literature.

Note: The principal species of the drama are {tragedy} and
{comedy}; inferior species are {tragi-comedy},
{melodrama}, {operas}, {burlettas}, and {farces}.

{The romantic drama}, the kind of drama whose aim is to
present a tale or history in scenes, and whose plays (like
those of Shakespeare, Marlowe, and others) are stories
told in dialogue by actors on the stage. --J. A. Symonds.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Comedy \Com"e*dy\, n.; pl. {Comedies}. [F. com['e]die, L.
comoedia, fr. Gr. ?; ? a jovial festivity with music and
dancing, a festal procession, an ode sung at this procession
(perh. akin to ? village, E. home) + ? to sing; for comedy
was originally of a lyric character. See {Home}, and {Ode}.]
A dramatic composition, or representation of a bright and
amusing character, based upon the foibles of individuals, the
manners of society, or the ludicrous events or accidents of
life; a play in which mirth predominates and the termination
of the plot is happy; -- opposed to tragedy.

With all the vivacity of comedy. --Macaulay.

Are come to play a pleasant comedy. --Shak.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

comedy
n 1: light and humorous drama with a happy ending [ant: {tragedy}]
2: a comic incident or series of incidents [syn: {drollery}, {clowning},
{funniness}]


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