abhinaya

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US/əˈbɪn.ə.jə/

noun

Use of the face and hands, in an expressive manner, similar to the kathakali dance of India.

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Meanings

nounabhinaya (plural abhinayas)

plural abhinayas

  1. danceUse of the face and hands, in an expressive manner, similar to the kathakali dance of India.

Origin

Transliteration of Sanskrit अभिनय (abhinaya, “acting, dramatic action”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese abhinaya
  • abhinayause of the face and hands in Indian dancing
Cite this entry
APA

abhinaya. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abhinaya

MLA

“abhinaya.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abhinaya. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abhinaya,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abhinaya.

Source: abhinaya on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.