Deuteragonist Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/djuˌtɛroʊˈæɡɒnɪst/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A secondary protagonist or co-lead in a story, typically playing a supporting role to the main protagonist.

Examples

• In the movie, the deuteragonist was the loyal sidekick who helped the hero on his quest.
• The deuteragonist in the novel was a complex and nuanced character who added depth to the story.

Synonyms

• Co-lead
• Secondary character
• Sidekick

Antonyms

• Antagonist
• Hero

Etymology

The term “deuteragonist” comes from Greek, with “deuteros” meaning “second” and “agonist” meaning ” competitor” or “hero”.

Usage Notes

When using the term “deuteragonist”, it’s essential to consider the context and the character’s role in the story.

Cultural References

In many famous literary and cinematic works, deuteragonists have played important roles, such as Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise, Spock in Star Trek, and Drago in Rocky IV.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“Deuteragonist to the hero” is an idiomatic expression that refers to a character who supports the main protagonist.

Related Words or Phrases

Terms like co-protagonist, secondary character, and supporting character are closely related to deuteragonist.

Collocations

Deuteragonist often collocates with words like “hero”, “heroine”, “story”, and “narrative”.

Frequency of Use

Deuteragonist is a relatively rare term, but its use has increased in recent years due to the growing importance of literary and cinematic analysis.

Common Misspellings

Some common misspellings of deuteragonist include “deuterotagonist”, “deutragonist”, and “deuteragonistic”.