English → Latin
“theatrical” in Latin
theātrālistheatrical; stagescēnicusOf or pertaining to the stage, theatrical, dramatic, scenic.; Fictitious, pretended; melodramatic.histriōAn actor, player.
The English word theatrical itself goes back to Latin theātricus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
theatrical
theatralis (with reference only to the theatre, as a building; but not to be used with reference to the actors, their poetry, art, manners, etc.; in reference to which scenicus must be used: hence consessus theatrales is right, but ludi theatrales wrong; for ludi scenici): scenicus (resembling the habit, manners, art, etc., of the stage-players; opposed to what happens in ordinary life). Also histrionum, genitive (in reference to the actors). Affected and theatrical gestures, histrionum gestus inepti: to clap the hands together and strike one’s breast is theatrical, manus complodere scenicum est, et pectus caedere (Quint., not theatrale). Anything presents a somewhat theatrical aspect, aliquid velut theatri efficit speciem.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for theatrical?
- The usual Latin words for “theatrical” are theātrālis, scēnicus, histriō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.