actor, actress

actor, actress
The suffix -ess is used to form distinctively feminine nouns such as hostess, lioness, duchess, and heiress. Even before the Women's Lib movement, its use was considered offensive in such words as Jewess, Negress, and poetess, because emphasis on sex seemed irrelevant and possibly prejudicial. With an actress, however, femininity is essential to her art, so that the term is appropriate and useful. An actor, of course, is a male performer.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • actor, actress — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ accomplished, brilliant, consummate, experienced, fine, good, great, talented, wonderful ▪ He s a brilliant act …   Collocations dictionary

  • actor, actress — n. 1) to cast an actor, actress 2) a character actor, actress …   Combinatory dictionary

  • actor, actress — ▶ noun PERFORMER, player, trouper, thespian; film star, matinee idol, star, starlet; informal ham; Brit. informal luvvy; N. Amer …   Useful english dictionary

  • actor — I actor, actress (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. performer, player; tragedian, comedian, Thespian; playactor; doer, worker. See agent, drama. II (Roget s IV) n. 1. [A theatrical performer] Syn. player, performer, star, character,… …   English dictionary for students

  • actress — I actor, actress (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. performer, player; tragedian, comedian, Thespian; playactor; doer, worker. See agent, drama. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. actor, female performer, member of the cast, ing?nue, comedienne,… …   English dictionary for students

  • actress — See actor, actress …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • actor — See actor, actress …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • actress — (n.) 1580s, female who does something; see ACTOR (Cf. actor) + ESS (Cf. ess); stage sense is from 1700. Sometimes French actrice was used …   Etymology dictionary

  • Actress — Ac tress, n. [Cf. F. actrice.] 1. A female actor or doer. [Obs.] Cockeram. [1913 Webster] 2. A female stageplayer; a woman who acts a part. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • actress — [n] woman actor diva, ingenue, leading lady, prima donna, starlet; concept 352 …   New thesaurus

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