I.a stage-player, actor, either tragic or comic (syn.: actor, mimus, tragoedus, comoedus).
I. Lit.: “quod verbum in cavea dixit histrio,” Plaut. Truc. 5, 39; Liv. 7, 2; Val. Max. 2, 4, 4; Cic. Fin. 3, 7, 24; id. Par. 3, 2, 26; id. de Or. 1, 5, 18; 1, 61, 258; id. de Sen. 19, 70; Plaut. Am. prol. 69; 77 sq.; id. Capt. prol. 13 et saep.: “ex pessimo histrione bonum comoedum fieri,” Cic. Rosc. Com. 10, 30; cf.: “vidi ego saepe histriones atque comoedos, cum, etc.,” Quint. 6, 2, 35 Spald.: “patina Aesopi tragoediarum histrionis,” Plin. 35, 12, 46, § 163: “M. Ofilius Hilarus comoediarum histrio,” id. 7, 53, 54, § 185: “tragicus,” id. 10, 51, 72, § 141: “quod non dant proceres dabit histrio,” Juv. 7, 90.—*
II. Transf., a boaster: “histrionis est parvam rem attollere,” Cels. 5, 26, 1.