theatrum

thĕātrum, i, n., = theatron, a playhouse, theatre (cf.: scena, spectaculum, ludus).

I.

Lit.:

num theatrum, gymnasia, porticus, etc.... rem publicam efficiebat?

Cic. Rep. 3, 32, 44:

theatrum ut commune sit,

id. Fin. 3, 20, 67:

castra munita... alterā (ex parte) a theatro, quod est ante oppidum,

Caes. B. C. 2, 25; Nep. Reg. 2, 1:

populi sensus maxime theatro et spectaculis perspectus est,

Cic. Att. 2, 19, 3:

aliquid totius theatri clamore dicere,

id. ib.:

consessus theatri,

id. Tusc. 1, 16, 37:

in vacuo laetus sessor plausorque theatro,

Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 130; Ov. A. A. 1, 497:

hos arto stipata theatro Spectat Roma potens,

Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 60:

Philippus in acie tutior quam in theatro fuit,

Curt. 9, 6, 25; cf. Vitr. 5, 3, 1 sqq.; Verg. A. 1, 427; Liv. Epit. 48 fin.; Val. Max. 2, 4, 2:

exeamus e theatro,

i. e. cease to speak of actors, Cic. N. D. 3, 30, 74.—Of the Greek theatre, which served as a place for public meetings, Cic. Fl. 7, 16; Liv. 24, 39, 1; 33, 28, 4; Tac. H. 2, 80; Nep. Timol. 4, 2; Vulg. Act. 19, 29; 19, 31.—

B.

Transf.

1.

In gen., any open space for exhibiting martial games, Verg. A. 5, 288; 5, 664.—

2.

Like our theatre, for the spectators assembled in a theatre, a theatrical audience:

frequentissimum,

Cic. Div. 1, 28, 59:

consensus theatri,

id. Phil. 1, 12, 30:

tunc est commovendum theatrum, cum ventum est ad ipsum illud Plaudite,

Quint. 6, 1, 52.— Plur.:

qui (modi) totis theatris maestitiam inferunt,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 44, 106; id. de Or. 3, 50, 196:

tota saepe theatra exclamasse barbare,

Quint. 1, 6, 45; cf.:

spissa theatra,

Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 41.—

II.

Trop., a place of exhibition, theatre, stage, for any public act:

nullum theatrum virtuti conscientia majus est,

Cic. Tusc. 2, 26, 64:

magno theatro (ea familiaritas) spectata est,

openly, publicly, id. Fam. 12, 29, 1; cf.:

quasi in aliquo terrarum orbis theatro versari,

id. Verr. 2, 5, 14, § 35; id. Brut. 2, 6:

in theatro terrarum orbis esse,

Curt. 9, 6, 21:

optimus quisque praeceptor frequentiā gaudet ac majore se theatro dignum putat,

Quint. 1, 2, 9.