χορός
Alt. χορός, οῦ, ὁ,
I. "a round dance", used at banquets and festive occasions, Hom., Hes.:—at Athens, the χορὸς κύκλιος performed "round" the altar of Dionysus, Hdt., Eur., etc.
2. from the Dionysiac Chorus arose the Attic Drama, which consisted at first of tales inserted in the intervals of the Dance (ἐπεισόδια), recited by "a single actor": this dramatic chorus was either τραγικός consisting usually of 15 persons, or κωμικός of 24. When a Poet wished to bring out a piece, he asked a Chorus from the Archon, and the expenses, being great, were defrayed by some rich citizen (the χορηγός): it was furnished by the Tribe and trained originally by the Poet himself (hence called χοροδιδάσκαλος).
II. "a chorus, choir", i. e. "a band of dancers and singers", Hhymn., Pind.
2. generally, "a choir or troop", τέκνων Eur.; also of things, χ. σκευῶν "a row" of dishes, Xen.; χ. ὀδόντων "a row" of teeth, whence the joke of οἱ πρόσθιοι χοροί, for the front teeth, Ar.
III. "a place for dancing", λείηναν χορόν Od., etc.