Comedia

/koʊˈmeɪdiə/ noun

Definition

A comedy or theatrical work (from Spanish/Portuguese/Italian), often used in English to refer to Spanish or Latin American comic dramas.

Etymology

From Spanish/Portuguese/Italian 'comedia,' derived from Latin 'comoedia,' which came from Greek 'komoidia' (from 'komos' revel + 'oidia' song). The term referred to comedic plays in classical theater and evolved to mean any comic work.

Kelly Says

The Spanish 'comedia' includes both tragedy and comedy—when Spanish playwrights used it, they meant any serious theatrical work, not just funny ones, which is why Shakespeare's tragic 'comedias' still use the term!

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