exeunt meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

exeunt

noun

US /ˈɛksi.ənt/

Etymology Borrowed from Latin exeunt (“they leave”), the third-person plural present active indicative of exeō (“leave”).

A stage direction for more than one actor to leave the stage.

undoubtedly the curtains closed at the exeunt of all the characters but one.1909, Victor Emanuel Albright, The Shakesperian stage, page 124:
In addition, several exits that have interpretative significance are changed by editors to exeunts and vice-versa.2002, Alan C. Dessen, Rescripting Shakespeare: the text, the director, and modern productions, page 223:

An act of one or more actors leaving the stage.

To supply the place of scenery, it was hung round with crimson curtains, through which we were to make our entrances and exeunts.1854, Anna Cora Ogden Mowatt Ritchie, Autobiography of an Actress; Or, Eight Years on the Stage, page 35:

verb

Etymology Borrowed from Latin exeunt (“they leave”), the third-person plural present active indicative of exeō (“leave”).

Broadcasting, Drama, Dramaturgy, Entertainment, Film, Lifestyle, Media, Television, Theater Archaic They leave the stage (a stage direction to two or more actors, the plural counterpart of exit).

Get thee to bed, and rest; for thou hast need. [Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse.]c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
Enter two Devils. Wagner. How now sir, will you serve me now? Robin. Ay, good Wagner, take away the devils then. Wagner. Spirits, away! [Exeunt Devils.] Now, sirrah, follow me.1589–1592 (date written), Ch[ristopher] Marl[owe], The Tragicall History of D. Faustus. […], London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Thomas Bushell, published 1604, →OCLC:

4 more examples

Jane, Ursa, carrying Thomas, and Moss Bud start to exeunt.1921, Montrose Jonas Moses, A Treasury of Plays for Children, page 504:
On that dixit we exeunted.1957, Henry Miller, Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch, page 249:
That let the small problem of getting the van within proximity, running a few yards of cable, spiking the phone line, revving the engine and frying the phones, removing the cable, and exeunting, south1997, Richard Marcinko with John Weisman, Task Force Blue, page 311:
The lasses picked up their skirts and exeunted.2003, Neal Stephenson, Quicksilver, page 142: