Skip to main content
harlequinade

harlequinade

1 9.9
A silly performance like a clown act that makes people laugh
  • noun
  • /ˌhɑr.lɪ.kɪˈneɪd/
  • Archaic
translation icon : arlequinada
  • Light from the hall glowed in a harlequinade of jeweled colors through the lozenges of stained glass set into the panel above the doorway, red and green and blue and gold.

Examples

  • The classic panto featured a harlequinade that showcased comic skits and exaggerated characters.

  • I preside over a little harlequinade called the Contest of Champions.

  • It's about Harlequinade.

  • The Harlequinade?

  • She also occasionally sang French songs, and her greatest American success (judging by its frequency in her repertoire) seems to have been as Columbine, the nonspeaking female lead in the winter holiday season's harlequinades.

    Academic text (2016)
  • The children's performance was a delightful harlequinade full of laughter and playful antics.

  • During the festival, the troupe put on a vibrant harlequinade that entertained audiences of all ages.

Synonyms

frivolity
vsharlequinade
9 6.7

Light, silly behavior that is not serious

is a deliberate comic stage act rather than mere lightness
clowning
vsharlequinade
8 3.2

Acting in a silly way to make people laugh

is a staged pantomime form rather than general playful behaviour
buffoonery
vsharlequinade
5 7.9

Clown-like, silly actions meant to make people laugh

is theatrical and stylized rather than simply silly behavior for fun
japery
vsharlequinade
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Playful, foolish behavior that tries to make people laugh

is a formal stage tradition in pantomime rather than casual joking
clownery
vsharlequinade
5.6

Funny performance by a clown with acts and physical tricks

is a specific traditional pantomime style rather than general comic performance

How Comic

slapstick
5 4.9
harlequinade
  • Archaic
1 9.9
farce
64 5.3
comedy
350 1.0
comic
289 1.9

Surface Forms

harlequinade singular
harlequinades plural

Morphology

harlequinade = harlequin (semi-transparent) = harlequin + ade

Formed by 'harlequin' + the suffix '-ade' meaning an act or performance; the derivation is clear but the suffix is somewhat specialized and the meaning is culturally specific.

Etymology

The word harlequinade comes from the comic character Harlequin, a colourful trick-playing clown from old Italian theatre, and the ending -ade, which turns a name into a 'show'. So, a harlequinade is a 'show' of 'clowning' or 'foolish behaviour'.