dramatis personæ

singular dramatis persona

1. archaicpluralplural normallyArchaic spelling of dramatis personae.

   They are constantly abusing Proserpine, who is introduced with all the trappings of Tartarean pomp into this performance, where there are no less than ninety-two dramatis personæ, among whom are the Virgin and God the Father.

   1823, William Hone, Ancient Mysteries Described, Especially the English Miracle Plays, Founded on Apocryphal New Testament Story, Extant Among the Unpublished Manuscripts in the British Museum; […], London: […] William Hone, […], page 174

   2 more examples

   For about the fifth time he then proposed the Heir at Law, doubting only whether to prefer Lord Duberley or Dr. Pangloss for himself, and very earnestly, but very unsuccessfully, trying to persuade the others that there were some fine tragic parts in the rest of the Dramatis Personæ.

   1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter XIV, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, pages 274–275

   He knew not his countrymen again: one trait of their character still, however, predominated,—their vanity and their love of dramatic situation: hence their liberty, equality, republic, were all êtres de raison, personified into so many dramatis personæ.

   1825, A[ndré] Vieusseux, chapter III, in Anselmo: A Tale of Italy, volume I, London: […] Charles Knight, […], page 75