Origin and history of theater

also theatre (see below), late 14c., "large, open-air place in ancient times for viewing spectacles and plays," from Old French theatre (12c., Modern French théâtre, improperly accented) and directly from Latin theatrum "play-house, theater; stage; spectators in a theater" (source also of Spanish, Italian teatro).

This is from Greek theatron "theater; the people in the theater; a show, a spectacle," literally "place for viewing," from theasthai "to behold" (related to thea "a view, a seeing, sight, spectacle; a seat in the theater," theates "spectator") + -tron, suffix denoting place. Beekes writes that thea has "No lE cognates" and that "the word is Pre-Greek, as is proven by the variations."

In Archbishop Alfric's Old English vocabulary, Latin theatrum is rendered by wafungstede "a place for sights," a word built by literal translation of parts and suggesting that the Anglo-Saxons had no equivalent thing. A supplement to the glossary translates it with myltestrehus "brothel," which mistake Wülcker (1884) notes "arose probably from [the Anglo-Saxon transcriber] forming his judgment of the character of the Roman stage only from the ecclesiastical writers, who decried both the theatrical performances, which had become degraded enough, and the drama in general."

The meaning "play-house, building where plays are shown" is from 1570s in English. As "room, hall, etc. with a platform at one end and tiers of seats for spectators," for lectures, later surgical demonstrations, etc. is by 1610s. The transferred sense of "plays, the body of dramatic literature, playwriting; production, the stage" is from 1660s. Theater-goer is attested by 1870.

It was used broadly from late 14c. of any place where dramatic events are held; the generic sense of "place of action or exhibition" emerged by 1580s; in 20c. especially "region where war is being fought" (1914).

The modern spelling with -re arose late 17c. and prevailed in Britain after c. 1700 by French influence, but American English retained or revived the older spelling in -er.