Part 98

3. So much of a play as passes without change of locality or time, or important change of character; hence, a subdivision of an act; a separate portion of a play, subordinate to the act, but differently determined in different plays; as, an act of four scenes.

My dismal scene I needs must act alone.

Shak.

4. The place, time, circumstance, etc., in which anything occurs, or in which the action of a story, play, or the like, is laid; surroundings amid which anything is set before the imagination; place of occurrence, exhibition, or action. "In Troy, there lies the scene." Shak.

The world is a vast scene of strife.

J. M. Mason.

5. An assemblage of objects presented to the view at once; a series of actions and events exhibited in their connection; a spectacle; a show; an exhibition; a view.

Through what new scenes and changes must we pass!

Addison.

6. A landscape, or part of a landscape; scenery.

A sylvan scene with various greens was drawn, Shades on the sides, and in the midst a lawn.

Dryden.

7. An exhibition of passionate or strong feeling before others; often, an artifical or affected action, or course of action, done for effect; a theatrical display.

Probably no lover of scenes would have had very long to wait for some explosions between parties, both equally ready to take offense, and careless of giving it.

De Quincey.

Behind the scenes, behind the scenery of a theater; out of the view of the audience, but in sight of the actors, machinery, etc.; hence, conversant with the hidden motives and agencies of what appears to public view.

Scene, v. t. To exhibit as a scene; to make a scene of; to display. [Obs.] Abp. Sancroft.

Scene"ful (?), a. Having much scenery. [R.]

Scene"man (?), n.; pl. Scenemen (&?;). The man who manages the movable scenes in a theater.

Scen"er*y (?), n. 1. Assemblage of scenes; the paintings and hangings representing the scenes of a play; the disposition and arrangement of the scenes in which the action of a play, poem, etc., is laid; representation of place of action or occurence.

2. Sum of scenes or views; general aspect, as regards variety and beauty or the reverse, in a landscape; combination of natural views, as woods, hills, etc.

Never need an American look beyond his own country for the sublime and beautiful of natural scenery.

W. Irving.

Scene"shift`er (?), n. One who moves the scenes in a theater; a sceneman.

{ Scen"ic (?), Scen"ic*al (?) }, a. [L. scaenicus, scenicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. scénique. See Scene.] Of or pertaining to scenery; of the nature of scenery; theatrical.

All these situations communicate a scenical animation to the wild romance, if treated dramatically.

De Quincey.

Scen"o*graph (?), n. [See Scenography.] A perspective representation or general view of an object.