Atellan

adjective

Atel·​lan

əˈtelən

variants or less commonly Atellane

",

-ˌlān

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a Roman genre of farce developed from impromptu rustic plays of country life and adopted for interludes and afterpieces during the Republic and up to the time of Tiberius

Word History

Etymology

Latin Atellanus of Atella, from Atella, ancient Oscan town in southern Italy where the Roman farce originated + Latin -anus -an

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!