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The Collaborative International Dictionary
The romantic drama

Drama \Dra"ma\ (dr[aum]"m[.a] or dr[=a]"m[.a]; 277), n. [L. drama, Gr. dra^ma, fr. dra^n to do, act; cf. Lith. daryti.]

  1. A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action, and intended to exhibit a picture of human life, or to depict a series of grave or humorous actions of more than ordinary interest, tending toward some striking result. It is commonly designed to be spoken and represented by actors on the stage.

    A divine pastoral drama in the Song of Solomon.
    --Milton.

  2. A series of real events invested with a dramatic unity and interest. ``The drama of war.''
    --Thackeray.

    Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last.
    --Berkeley.

    The drama and contrivances of God's providence.
    --Sharp.

  3. Dramatic composition and the literature pertaining to or illustrating it; dramatic literature.

    Note: The principal species of the drama are tragedy and comedy; inferior species are tragi-comedy, melodrama, operas, burlettas, and farces.

    The romantic drama, the kind of drama whose aim is to present a tale or history in scenes, and whose plays (like those of Shakespeare, Marlowe, and others) are stories told in dialogue by actors on the stage.
    --J. A. Symonds.

The romantic drama

Romantic \Ro*man"tic\, a. [F. romantique, fr. OF. romant. See Romance.]

  1. Of or pertaining to romance; involving or resembling romance; hence, fanciful; marvelous; extravagant; unreal; as, a romantic tale; a romantic notion; a romantic undertaking.

    Can anything in nature be imagined more profane and impious, more absurd, and undeed romantic, than such a persuasion?
    --South.

    Zeal for the good of one's country a party of men have represented as chimerical and romantic.
    --Addison.

  2. Entertaining ideas and expectations suited to a romance; as, a romantic person; a romantic mind.

  3. Of or pertaining to the style of the Christian and popular literature of the Middle Ages, as opposed to the classical antique; of the nature of, or appropriate to, that style; as, the romantic school of poets.

  4. Characterized by strangeness or variety; suggestive of adventure; suited to romance; wild; picturesque; -- applied to scenery; as, a romantic landscape.

    Syn: Sentimental; fanciful; fantastic; fictitious; extravagant; wild; chimerical. See Sentimental.

    The romantic drama. See under Drama.