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monologue

monologue, soliloquy

noun moh-noh-LOG Rare
Arts & Culture Performance

Origin: Greek monologos (speaking alone)

Usage Note

Monologue is used both in theatre (a character speaking alone, a soliloquy) and everyday speech for a person who monopolises a conversation: il nous a fait un grand monologue ('he lectured us at length'). The theatrical monologue intérieur (interior monologue) is a key term in literary studies. The performer is a monologuiste.

Examples

"L'acteur a livré un monologue puissant."

Natural Translation

The actor delivered a powerful monologue.

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