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3. Mar, 2010
Definition Revisited: Theater vs Theatre
Oh dear, oh dear, the English language is being has been hijacked again. I am a Brit living in Canada so I thought I would add my 'two penny worth'.
The Oxford English dictionary states:
theatre
(US theater)
• noun 1 a building in which plays and other dramatic performances are given. 2 the writing and production of plays. 3 a play or other activity considered in terms of its dramatic quality. 4 (also lecture theatre) a room for lectures with seats in tiers. 5 Brit. an operating theatre. 6 the area in which something happens: a theatre of war. 7 before another noun (of weapons) intermediate between tactical and strategic.
— ORIGIN Greek theatron, from theasthai ‘behold’.
So in British English it's 'theatre' always.
I'm not saying one is right and one is wrong....just different as are a lot of words these days. Interesting topic though as I didn't know the US used 'theatre' at all.
Love the site by the way. We do a lot of community drama and with the limited budgets we have, I'm impressed at how many money saving tips I find.
The Oxford English dictionary states:
theatre
(US theater)
• noun 1 a building in which plays and other dramatic performances are given. 2 the writing and production of plays. 3 a play or other activity considered in terms of its dramatic quality. 4 (also lecture theatre) a room for lectures with seats in tiers. 5 Brit. an operating theatre. 6 the area in which something happens: a theatre of war. 7 before another noun (of weapons) intermediate between tactical and strategic.
— ORIGIN Greek theatron, from theasthai ‘behold’.
So in British English it's 'theatre' always.
I'm not saying one is right and one is wrong....just different as are a lot of words these days. Interesting topic though as I didn't know the US used 'theatre' at all.
Love the site by the way. We do a lot of community drama and with the limited budgets we have, I'm impressed at how many money saving tips I find.