scene
/siːn/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
skēnē — tent, booth, or covered shelter
Overview
Meaning Now
- A sequence of continuous action in a play, movie, or book.
- A place or setting where an event occurs.
- A display of intense emotion or inappropriate behavior in public.
Literal older meaning
tent, stage, or booth
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
scene
Earliest period
late 15th century
Journey
The term originally referred to the physical 'tent' or 'booth' used by actors in ancient Greek theater to change costumes, which eventually became the permanent structure behind the stage (the scaena). By the 16th century, the word evolved to describe the painted backdrop panels, and eventually the actual division of a play script.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
skēnē
“a temporary covered structure, later theatrical stage”
- Latin
scaena
“the stage or background of a theatre”
borrowed from Greek
- Middle French
scène
“theatre stage”
- Early Modern English
scene
“stage; later a division of a play or a setting of an event”
Connections
Word parts
scene
root
setting or stage
Related across languages
French
scène
stage or scene
Italian
scena
scene or stage
Explore next
Related to scene
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.