chorus English · revision 15000

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1561|origins=grc χορός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkɔː.rəs/, US /ˈkɔːr.əs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|chorus|t=a round dance, band of dancers and singers]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[grc|χορός|tr=khorós|t=round dance, dancing place, band of dancers]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a word of uncertain origin, perhaps from a root meaning to enclose, if the first sense was an enclosed dancing floor.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[choir]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In drama, a person who speaks the prologue and comments on the action: 1561.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The chorus of Greek drama, an organized band of singers and dancers, and the song it sang, are from 1606.^(OED 1989) The musical senses came later: a refrain from 1599, in Ben Jonson's Cynthia's Revels, a choir from 1656, in Blount's Glossographia, and a vocal composition from 1744.^(Barnhart 1988) The simultaneous singing or speaking of many people is from 1711,^(OED 1989) and of other sounds, such as laughter, from 1735.^(OED 1989) The verb is from 1826.^(MWU 2024) In Cornish dialect a chorus was a feast.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1561 – a speaker of the prologue.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1599 – a refrain.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1606 – the chorus of Greek drama.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1656 – a choir.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1711 – simultaneous singing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1744 – a choral composition.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A large group of singers, or a piece of music written for such a group.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A group of singers or dancers who perform together, as distinct from the principals.^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[refrain]] in which others join a soloist, or the repeated main section of a song.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something said or done by many people at once: ''a chorus of protest''.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+ # In classical drama, a group of actors commenting on the action.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To sing or say together.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[chorus frog]]

+ * [[chorus girl]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[choir]]

+ * [[choral]]

+ * [[choreographer]]

+ * [[choreography]]

+ * [[choreutic]]

+ * [[chorine]]

+ * [[chorister]]

+ * [[quire]]

+ * [[carol]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}