chorus

chorus
chorus 1560s, from L. chorus "a dance in a circle, the persons singing and dancing, the chorus of a tragedy," from Gk. khoros "band of dancers or singers, dance, dancing ground," perhaps from PIE *gher- "to grasp, enclose," if the original sense of the Greek word is "enclosed dancing floor." Extension from dance to voice is because Attic drama arose from tales inserted in the intervals of the dance. In Attic tragedy, the khoros (of 15 or 24 persons) gave expression, between the acts, to the moral and religious sentiments evoked by the actions of the play.
When a Poet wished to bring out a piece, he asked a Chorus from the Archon, and the expenses, being great, were defrayed by some rich citizen (the khoregos): it was furnished by the Tribe and trained originally by the Poet himself" [Liddell & Scott]
Originally in English used in theatrical sense; meaning of "a choir" first attested 1650s. Meaning "the refrain of a song" (which the audience joins in singing) is 1590s. Chorus girl is 1894.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • chorus — [ kɔrys ] n. m. • XVe; mot lat. « chœur » 1 ♦ Vx Reprise en chœur. ♢ Clameur d ensemble. ⇒ chœur, concert. « un chorus universel de haine et de proscription » (Beaumarchais). ♢ Mod. Loc. FAIRE CHORUS : se joindre à d autres pour dire comme eux;… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Chorus — may refer to: Plays Greek chorus Musical Choir, a vocal ensemble Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound; signal processors design to simulate the effect Refrain or chorus of a song, pre… …   Wikipedia

  • Chorus — コーラス Номер Chorus за сентябрь 2010 года. Специализация: манга …   Википедия

  • Chorus — (v. grch. choros ‚Reigentanz‘, ‚Chor der Tänzer u. Sänger‘) steht für: Chor (Musik), ein Gesangs Chor Ein gemeinsames Lied Chorus (Jazz), eine Strophe in der Jazz und Blues Musik Refrain in der Pop Musik, insbesondere den Broadway Songs Chorus… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Chorus — Cho rus, n.; pl. {Choruses}. [L., a dance in a ring, a dance accompanied with song; a chorus, a band of dancers and singers. Gr. ?. See {Choir}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Antiq.) A band of singers and dancers. [1913 Webster] The Grecian tragedy was at… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chorus — CHÓRUS, chorusuri, s.n. (Jaz) Improvizaţie solistică legată de o temă principală. ♦ Improvizaţie colectivă, care urmează după improvizaţiile soliştilor. [pr.: co ] – Din fr., engl. chorus. Trimis de valeriu, 03.03.2003. Sursa: DEX 98  CHORUS s.n …   Dicționar Român

  • chorus — [kôr′əs] n. [L, a dance, band of dancers or singers < Gr choros] 1. in ancient Greek drama, and drama like it, a company of performers whose singing, dancing, and narration provide explanation and elaboration of the main action 2. in… …   English World dictionary

  • chorus — [n1] group of singers carolers, choir, chorale, choristers, ensemble, glee club, singing group, vocalists, voices; concept 294 chorus [n2] refrain bob, burden, chorale, main section, melody, motif, music, recurrent verse, response, ritornelle,… …   New thesaurus

  • Chorus — Cho rus, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Chorused}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Chorusing}.] To sing in chorus; to exclaim simultaneously. W. D. Howells. [1913 Webster] || …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chorus — CHORUS. Mot emprunté du Latin, qui n est d usage qu en cette phrase, Faire chorus, en parlant De plusieurs personnes qui chantent ensemble à table, et ordinairement le verre à la main …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

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