The word histrionic comes from Latin, derived from histrio (actor) and -icus (pertaining to), meaning "of or pertainig to actors" and was likely borrowed from the ancient Etruscan language.  It entered English around the 1640s from Late Latin histrionicus, pertaining to actors or acting.   Its meaning shifted from literal stage performance to describing exaggerated, overly emotional, or dramatic behavior in everyday life, reflecting the melodramatic style of ancient Roman actors known for pantomime. 

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word histrionic first appeared in English in the early 1600s, with the earliest known use found in 1627 in the writings of P. Forbes, though its related form, the adjective histrionical, dates back to the mid-1500s (around 1553). The term comes from Latin, meaning "pertaining to an actor," and was used to describe something theatrical or dramatic.  The sense of exaggerated or overly emotional behavior, often for attention (as in "histrionics") developed in the 1820s. 

Examples of "histrionic" used in a sentence:
"His histrionic oratorical style sometimes distracts from his message." 
"Clarissa's quiet apotheosis is offered as an alternative to histrionic theatrics." 
"And you risk being labeled as having a narcissistic or histrionic personality disorder." 
"Histrionic hoots and whistles fool them into thinking that another predator is invading their turf." 
"She lacks the vocal palette and histrionic range of the great spellbinders, so she's never going to vibrate the rafters of a big arena." 
"Dependent personality disorder frequently occurs in tandem with other personality-based mental illness, such as borderline, histrionic, and avoidant personality disorders."