Lewis & Short

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† thĕātrum, i, n., = θέατρον, a playhouse, theatre (cf.: scena, spectaculum, ludus).

  1. I. Lit.: num theatrum, gymnasia, porticus, etc. … rem publicam efficiebat? Cic. Rep. 3, 32, 44: theatrum ut commune sit, id. Fin. 3, 20, 67: castra munita … alterā (ex parte) a theatro, quod est ante oppidum, Caes. B. C. 2, 25; Nep. Reg. 2, 1: populi sensus maxime theatro et spectaculis perspectus est, Cic. Att. 2, 19, 3: aliquid totius theatri clamore dicere, id. ib.: consessus theatri, id. Tusc. 1, 16, 37: in vacuo laetus sessor plausorque theatro, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 130; Ov. A. A. 1, 497: hos arto stipata theatro Spectat Roma potens, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 60: Philippus in acie tutior quam in theatro fuit, Curt. 9, 6, 25; cf. Vitr. 5, 3, 1 sqq.; Verg. A. 1, 427; Liv. Epit. 48 fin.; Val. Max. 2, 4, 2: exeamus e theatro, i. e. cease to speak of actors, Cic. N. D. 3, 30, 74.
    Of the Greek theatre, which served as a place for public meetings, Cic. Fl. 7, 16; Liv. 24, 39, 1; 33, 28, 4; Tac. H. 2, 80; Nep. Timol. 4, 2; Vulg. Act. 19, 29; 19, 31.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. In gen., any open space for exhibiting martial games, Verg. A. 5, 288; 5, 664.
      2. 2. Like our theatre, for the spectators assembled in a theatre, a theatrical audience: frequentissimum, Cic. Div. 1, 28, 59: consensus theatri, id. Phil. 1, 12, 30: tunc est commovendum theatrum, cum ventum est ad ipsum illud Plaudite, Quint. 6, 1, 52.
        Plur.: qui (modi) totis theatris maestitiam inferunt, Cic. Tusc. 1, 44, 106; id. de Or. 3, 50, 196: tota saepe theatra exclamasse barbare, Quint. 1, 6, 45; cf.: spissa theatra, Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 41.
  2. II. Trop., a place of exhibition, theatre, stage, for any public act: nullum theatrum virtuti conscientia majus est, Cic. Tusc. 2, 26, 64: magno theatro (ea familiaritas) spectata est, openly, publicly, id. Fam. 12, 29, 1; cf.: quasi in aliquo terrarum orbis theatro versari, id. Verr. 2, 5, 14, § 35; id. Brut. 2, 6: in theatro terrarum orbis esse, Curt. 9, 6, 21: optimus quisque praeceptor frequentiā gaudet ac majore se theatro dignum putat, Quint. 1, 2, 9.