CHORUS χορος: |
| HISTORY OF THE ANGLICIZED WORD CHORUS (etymonline.com) |
chorus (n.)
1560s, from Latin chorus "a dance in a circle, the persons singing and dancing, the chorus of a tragedy," from Greek khoros "band of dancers or singers, dance, dancing ground," perhaps from PIE *gher- "to grasp, enclose," if the original sense of the Greek word is "enclosed dancing floor."
Extension from dance to voice is because Attic drama arose from tales inserted in the intervals of the dance. In Attic tragedy, the khoros (of 12 or 15 (tragic) or 24 (comedic) persons) gave expression, between the acts, to the moral and religious sentiments evoked by the actions of the play.
When a Poet wished to bring out a piece, he asked a Chorus from the Archon, and the expenses, being great, were defrayed by some rich citizen (the khoregos): it was furnished by the Tribe and trained originally by the Poet himself" [Liddell & Scott] Originally in English used in theatrical sense; meaning of "a choir" first attested 1650s. Meaning "the refrain of a song" (which the audience joins in singing) is 1590s. As a verb, 1703, from the noun. Chorus girl is 1894. - http://www.etymonline.com/
| DICTIONARIES |
1) a band (of dancers and singers), circular dance, a dance, dancing
Part of Speech: noun masculine
Merriam-Webster (online): as used in America today
1 a: a company of singers and dancers in Athenian drama participating in or commenting on the action
also : a similar company in later plays
b: a character in Elizabethan drama who speaks the prologue and epilogue and comments on the action
c: an organized company of singers who sing in concert : CHOIR especially : a body of singers who sing the choral parts of a work (as in opera)
d: a group of dancers and singers supporting the featured players in a musical comedy or revue
2 a: a part of a song or hymn recurring at intervals
b: the part of a drama sung or spoken by the chorus
c: a composition to be sung by a number of voices in concert
d: the main part of a popular song
also : a jazz variation on a melodic theme
3 a: something performed, sung, or uttered simultaneously or unanimously by a number of persons or animals a chorus of boos
b: sounds so uttered
| CHORUSG5525 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT |
Choros-"a ring, round dance, choir, dancing"
Luke 15:25 "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing."
Acts 6:5 "And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch."
Thayer's Dictionary: Prochorus, the name of one of appointed deacons means leader of the chorus.
| CHORUS G5525 AS USED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (Greek Bible, LXX) |
Exodus 15:20, "the women after her with tambourines and dancers.G5525",
Exodus 32:19, "the company of dancers.G5525",
Judges 9:27, " and they made a dance,G5525",
Judges 11:34, "And Jephthah came to Mizpeh to his house. And behold, his daughter went forth for meeting him with tambourines and dancers,G5525",
Judges 21:21, "And look and behold, whenever [ should come forth the daughters of the ones dwelling in Shiloh] joining in a danceG5523.2 with a company of dancers,G5525",
1 Samuel 10:5, "And after these things you shall enter unto the hill of God, of which is there the height of the Philistines. And it will take place when ever you should enter there into the city, that you will meet a company of dancersG5525 of prophets coming down from out of Bama, and in front of them a stringed instrument, ... ",
1 Samuel 10:10, "And he comes from there unto the hill. And behold,G2400 a company of dancersG5525 of prophets right opposite him; and [leaped upon him spirit of God], and he prophesied in the midst of them."
1 Samuel 29:5, "Is this not David, which they led in dances,G5525 saying, Saul struck his thousands, and David his ten thousands?"
2 Samuel 6:13, "And there were with him the ones lifting the ark of the lord , seven companies of dancers,G5525 and [ for sacrifice a calf and lambs]."
1 Kings 1:40, "And [ ascended all the people] after him, and all the people joined in a danceG5523.2 by companies of dancers,G5525 and making glad [ gladness in great]. And [to the earth] with the sound of them."
2 Kings 11:4, "And in the [year seventh sent Jehoiada the priest] and took the commanders of hundreds of the patrols,G5525.1 and of the couriers, and brought them in to himself in the house of the lord."
2 Kings 11:19, "And he took the commanders of hundreds, and the patrol,G5525.1 and the couriers, and all the people of the land."
Psalm 149:3, "Let them praise his name among the company of dancers!G5525 with tambourine and psaltery let them strum to him!"
Psalm 150:4, "Praise him with a tambourine and company of dancers! Praise him with strings of a lyre and musical instrument!"
Song of Solomon 7:1, " What shall you see in the Shulamite? She comes as a companyG5525 of the camps. How you do beautify your footsteps in sandals, O daughter of Nabad. ... "
Lamentation 5:15, "[rested up Joy of our heart];[turned into mourning our dance G5525.]"
| RELATED ENGLISH WORDS LISTED IN etymonline.com |
chorine (n.) "chorus girl," 1922, from chorus + fem. ending -ine.
choreography (n.) 1789, from French choréographie, coined from Latinized form of Greek khoreia "dance" (see chorus) + graphein "to write" (see -graphy). Related: Choreographic.
chorister (n.) "member of a choir, singer in a chorus," mid-14c., queristre, from Anglo-French cueristre, variant of cueriste, from Church Latin chorista, from Latin chorus (see chorus) + -ster. Modern form is from late 16c.; compare choir.
choreology (n.) "the study of dancing," 1955, from Latinized form of Greek khoreia "dance" (see chorus) + connective -o- + -logy.
chorale (n.) 1828, "sacred choral song; musical composition in harmony, suited for performance by a choir," from German Choral "metrical hymn in Reformed church," shortened from Choralgesang "choral song," translating Medieval Latin cantus choralis, from Latin choralis "belonging to a chorus or choir," from chorus (see chorus). The -e was added to indicate stress. Meaning "group of singers performing choral music" is from 1942.
choric (adj.) "of or pertaining to a chorus," 1749, from Latin choricus, from Greek khorikos, from khoros "round dance; dancing-place; band of dancers; choir" (see chorus). Related: Chorical (1690s).
chorea (n.) "nervous disease marked by irregular and involuntary motions," 1806, from Modern Latin chorea Sancti Viti "St. Vitus dance" (1620s) which originally was a mass hysteria prevalent in 15c. Europe characterized by uncontrolled dancing); from Latin chorea "a dance," from Greek khoreia "dance" (see chorus). Related: Choreal.
choral (adj.) "pertaining to or characteristic of a chorus or choir," in music, "designed for vocal (as opposed to instrumental) performance," 1580s, from Middle French choral or directly from Medieval Latin choralis "belonging to a chorus or choir," from Latin chorus (see chorus).
choir (n.) c. 1300, queor "part of the church where the choir sings," from Old French cuer, quer "(architectural) choir of a church; chorus of singers" (13c., Modern French choeur), from Latin chorus "choir" (see chorus). Meaning "band of singers" in English is from c. 1400, quyre. Re-spelled mid-17c. in an attempt to match classical forms, but the pronunciation has not changed.
prepared by Gaylon West
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