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Glite Dictionary
play-actor

play-actor

7.2
An actor who travels to different towns to act in plays
  • noun
  • /ˈpleɪˌæktər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : actor de teatro
  • Was it the writers' existence as itinerant play-actors that convinced them they counted as indispensable members of society?

Examples

  • As a seasoned play-actor, he performed in various cities across the country every summer.

  • Many famous play-actors began their careers by traveling and performing in different regions.

  • The play-actor traveled to small towns to showcase his impressive skills in local theaters.

Synonyms

actor
vsplay-actor
∞ 1.0

A person who acts in plays, films, or television

narrows the focus to travelling to present plays rather than all media work
player
vsplay-actor
  • Archaic
36 2.2

A person who acts on stage in theatre shows

adds the idea of travelling to perform rather than only stage work
thespian
vsplay-actor
16 7.6

A person who acts in plays on stage

is more about moving from place to place to perform rather than the formal label
trouper
vsplay-actor
1 8.1

A performer who travels with a company to perform shows in different places

describes a travelling performer not necessarily tied to an organized troupe
role player
vsplay-actor
1 3.3

A person who plays a part in a play, movie, or show

focuses on travelling and presenting shows rather than only performing a part
playactor
vsplay-actor
  • Archaic
9.2

A travelling actor who performs plays in different towns

has the same meaning but is written with a hyphen instead of as one word
barnstormer
vsplay-actor
  • Archaic
9.6

A person who travels to small towns to perform plays

covers travelling performance generally, not only in rural areas

How Professional

star
∞ 1.1
leading man
28 3.9
movie actor
  • US
5 1.6
play-actor
  • Archaic
7.2
amateur
122 2.8

Surface Forms

play-actor singular
play-actors plural

Morphology

play-actor = play + actor (transparent) = play + actor

The meaning is a straightforward compound: an actor associated with plays, so learners can infer the sense from the parts.

Etymology

Play-actor comes from the parts play ('a performance') and actor ('a person who acts'), so it literally names someone who performs in plays. In older use it often meant an actor who travelled from town to town to present shows, which is why it especially suggests a performer who journeys to perform.