- cinema
- 1899, "a movie hall," from Fr. cinéma, shortened from cinématographe, coined 1890s by Lumiere brothers, who invented it, from Gk. kinema "movement," from kinein "to move" (see cite). Meaning "movies collectively, especially as an art form" first recorded 1918. Cinéma vérité is 1963, from Fr.; Cinerama, proprietary name, is from 1951.