Melodrama

Origin

From French mélodrame, the second element refashioned by analogy with drama; ultimately from Ancient Greek μέλος (melos, "limb”, “member”, “song”, “tune”, “melody") + δρᾶμα (drāma, "deed”, “theatrical act"). Compare melodrame. Cognate to German Melodram and Spanish melodrama.

Full definition of melodrama

Noun

1. (archaic, uncountable) A kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes.
2. (countable) A drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations, with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially thrilling or pathetic. In opera, a passage in which the orchestra plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks; as, the melodrama in the grave digging scene of Beethoven's "Fidelio".
• 1956, w, Crime out of Mind Chapter 9, Rudolf was the bold, bad Baron of traditional melodrama. Irene was young, as pretty as a picture, fresh from a music academy in England. He was the scion of an ancient noble family; she an orphan without money or friends.
3. (uncountable, figuratively, colloquial) Any situation or action which is blown out of proportion.

Derived terms

• melodramatic
• melodramatics
• melodramatist
• melodramatize