noun
main deuteragonist; main secondary role
Noh term for the principal supporting actor, often the waki or a key secondary character. Abbreviation of 主 (main) + アド (from アドバイザー or similar, referring to a supporting role).
See also: アド
この能では、主アドが物語の展開に重要な役割を果たす。
In this noh play, the main deuteragonist plays an important role in the development of the story.
主アドの演技が素晴らしく、シテとの
The main secondary role's performance was wonderful, and the interplay with the shite was superb.
アド alone refers to a deuteragonist or supporting role in noh, while 主アド specifies the main one among them.
シテ is the protagonist or main character in noh, whereas 主アド is the primary supporting character.
ワキ is a common term for the secondary actor in noh; 主アド may be used synonymously or to emphasize the main supporting role among several.
Abbreviation of 主 (おも, 'main') + アド, itself a clipping of a term like アドバイザー or アドバーサリー, used in noh to denote a supporting role. The exact origin of アド is uncertain but is established in noh terminology.