a. (sb.) [ad. late L. theātric-us, ad. Gr. θεᾱτρικός, f. θέᾱτρον THEATRE: see -IC. So F. † theatrique (15–16th c. in Godef.).]
1. Of, belonging to, or of the nature of the theatre; = THEATRICAL a. 1.
1706. Steele, Prol. Vanbrugh’s Mistake, 29. By him theatric angels mount more high, And mimic thunders shake a broader sky.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb., VI. ii. (1849), 318. Two buskined theatric heroes.
1812. Examiner, 21 Sept., 603/1. Theatric amusements might be made objects of taxation.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., XIV. iv. (1864), IX. 183. Councils denounced these theatric performances [the Mysteries].
b. Resembling a theatre or amphitheatre in shape or formation.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 108. Its uplands sloping deck the mountain’s side, Woods over woods in gay theatric pride.
1781. Mason, Eng. Gard., IV. 225. Two broad Piazzas in theatric curve.
1819. W. S. Rose, Lett., I. 27. Imagine … a city with something of a theatric form.
1819. Wordsw., Malham Cove. Oh, had this vast theatric structure wound With finish’d sweep into a perfect round.
2. = THEATRICAL a. 2.
1816. J. Gilchrist, Philos. Etym., 208. A poor, dull, servile, imitative, theatric set of artificial creatures, strutting about the stage of life in pompous insignificance.
3. Suggestive of the theatre; = THEATRICAL a. 3.
1656. Artif. Handsom., 168. What is there in any civill order … which doth not put on something Theatrick and pompous?
1760. Walpole, in Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880), 267. It was very theatric to look down into the vault, where the coffin was, attended by mourners with lights.
1788. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary (1876), IV. IV. 343. So theatric an attitude.
1879. McCarthy, Own Times, II. xxii. 139. He was picturesque and perhaps even theatric in his dress and his bearing.
B. sb. In pl. = theatricals (THEATRICAL sb. 2).
1807. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 9. Our theatrics shall take up but a small part of our paper.
Hence Theatricable a. (nonce-wd.), capable of being made theatric, i.e., dramatized.
1901. Howells, in N. Amer. Rev., CLXXII. 798. It is the subordinate affair of the actor to adapt himself to the poet’s conception, and find it theatricable.
