elliott

IPA/ˈɛlɪət/
KK[ˈɛliət]IPA/ˈɛliːət/

elliott — noun

1. Maxine Elliott (born Jessie Dermot, 1868–1940) was an American stage actress who

1.noun
Definition

Maxine Elliott (born Jessie Dermot, 1868–1940) was an American stage actress who gained fame in both New York and London for her commanding presence, comic timing, and striking beauty. She also managed her own theatre company and later ran a salon in the south of France.

Example

Historians describe Maxine Elliott as one of the most beautiful actresses of her era.

passive: 'described as' for reputation

Linh read about Maxine Elliott's theatre company while researching early-1900s stage productions in New York.

collocation: theatre company

Common collocations
  • Maxine Elliott
  • Maxine Elliott Theatre
  • Elliott's villa

Usage Note

Maxine Elliott is the stage name of Jessie Dermot. She is remembered as a major figure in early 20th-century theatre, but her name is less familiar to modern readers than contemporaries like Sarah Bernhardt. The name 'Elliott' alone (without 'Maxine') in a historical text may refer to other notable Elliott family members, such as her sister Gertrude Elliott, also an actress.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Etymology

EnglishScottishNorman FrenchHebrew

Maxine Elliott was born Jessie Dermot in Rockland, Maine. She chose the stage surname 'Elliott' — a common Scottish and English surname derived from a medieval personal name, itself a diminutive of the Norman French name 'Elie' (a form of Elijah). The name 'Maxine' she selected as a feminine stage name that sounded elegant and modern for the 1890s theatre world.