plaudite
(ˈplɔːdɪtiː)
Also 6 plaudetie -ytie, 6–7 -itie, -ity.
[a. L. plauditē applaud (ye)! 2 pl. imperative of plaudĕre to applaud; the customary appeal for applause made by Roman actors at the end of a play. The ending was early confounded with that of ns. in -ity; later the final -e became mute, giving rise to plaudit.]
1. An appeal for applause at the conclusion of a play or other performance. (Now only as Latin.)
| 1567 Drant Horace, Art of Poetry A v, That when the Epilogue is done we may with franke intente, After the plaudite stryke vp our plausible assente. 1606 Holland Sueton. 84 He adioyned with all this finall conclusion, for a Plaudite,..Now clap your hands and all with ioy resound a shout. 1880 Shorthouse J. Inglesant xxvi. 363 A theatre built in a mausoleum, and pantomime airs and the ‘plaudite’ heard amid the awful silence of the grave. |
† 2. transf. A round of applause. Obs. (Now plaudit.)
[The request put for the thing requested: cf. to grant a petition, request, etc.]
| 1573 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 129 A Plaudite and Deo Gratias for so happy an euente, And then to borrowe a nappe, I shalbe contente. 1575 Gammer Gurton v. ii, For Gammer Gurtons nedle sake, let vs haue a plaudytie. 1623 I. M. To Mem. Shaks. in S.'s Wks., That's but an Exit of Mortalitie; This, a Re-entrance to a Plaudite. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 248 ¶5 The House passed his Account with a Plaudite. |