histrionic

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 10, 2007 is: histrionic • \his-tree-AH-nik\  • adjective 1 : deliberately affected : theatrical 2 : of or relating to actors, acting, or the theater Examples: Professor Dawson's histrionic flair may have been excessive, but it certainly made his history lectures entertaining. Did you know? The term "histrionic" developed from "histrio," Latin for "actor." Something that is "histrionic" tends to remind one of the high drama of stage and screen and is often stagy and over-the-top. It especially calls to mind the theatrical form known as the "melodrama," where plot and physical action, not characterization, are emphasized. But something that is "histrionic" isn't always overdone; the word might simply refer to an actor or something related to the theater. In that sense, it becomes a synonym of "thespian." *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.