Pl. stasima, stasimons. [Gr. στάσιμον neut. (agreeing with μέλος song) of στάσιμος stationary, f. στα- to stand.
Some think that the ‘stationary song’ was so called because it began after the chorus had taken their places; others because it was continued without interruption.]
In ancient Greek tragedy, a song of the Chorus, occurring after the PARODE, continued without the interruption of dialogue or anapaestics.
1861. Paley, Æschylus (ed. 2), Supplices, 1 note, 1–39. The parode, or anapaestic recitation of the chorus as they enter the orchestra, the stasimon commencing with v. 40.
1876. W. Cory, Lett. & Jrnls. (1897), 413. [Swinburne’s] chorus is altogether too sugary, luxuriant, and unbridled in the stasima or set pieces.
1904. M. Hewlett, Queen’s Quair, II. vii. 283. Recalling critically … the stasimons of the late tragic scene.
