1. A high boot or buskin worn by actors in ancient Greek and Roman tragedy.
Usage: archaic; historical; also spelled 'cothurn'
2. Tragic drama or the tragic style in literature and theater.
Usage: archaic; literary; figurative

Examples

• The actor donned the cothurnus before stepping onto the stage to perform a classical tragedy.
• Ancient Roman actors wore the cothurnus to elevate their stature and command the audience's attention.
• The playwright's work was written in the cothurnus tradition, emphasizing noble suffering and fate.
• Scholars debate whether the cothurnus was used in all tragic performances or only in certain contexts.
• The cothurnus became a symbol of serious dramatic art in the classical world.