beguine
(redirected from Beguines)Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
Beg·uine
(bā′gēn′, bā-gēn′)n. Roman Catholic Church
A member of any of several lay sisterhoods founded in the Netherlands in the 13th century.
[Middle English begine, from Old French beguine, from Middle Dutch beg-, root of beggaert, one who rattles off prayers.]
be·guine
(bĭ-gēn′)n.
1. A ballroom dance similar to the foxtrot, based on a dance of Martinique and St. Lucia.
2. The music for this dance.
[French (West Indies) béguine, from French béguin, hood, flirtation, from beguine, Beguine; see Beguine.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
beguine
(bɪˈɡiːn)n
1. (Dancing) a dance of South American origin in bolero rhythm
2. (Music, other) a piece of music in the rhythm of this dance
3. (Clothing & Fashion) a variant of biggin1
[C20: from Louisiana French, from French béguin flirtation]
Beguine
(ˈbɛɡiːn)n
(Christian Churches, other) a member of a Christian sisterhood that was founded in Liège in the 12th century, and, though not taking religious vows, followed an austere life
[C15: from Old French, perhaps after Lambert le Bègue (the Stammerer), 12th-century priest of Liège, who founded the sisterhood]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
be•guine
(bəˈgin)n.
a dance in bolero rhythm that originated in Martinique.
[1930–35; < French (West Indies) béguine, feminine derivative of French béguin infatuation, literally, a kind of cap, orig. one worn by a Beguine]
Beg•uine
(ˈbɛg in, ˈbeɪ gin, bəˈgin)n.
a member of a Roman Catholic lay sisterhood founded in Liège in the 13th century.
[1350–1400; Middle English begyne < Middle French beguine, said to be after Lambert (le) Begue (the stammerer), founder of the order; see -ine 1]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
beguine
A broad term referring to the traditional music of a large part of the West Indies including Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. Characterized by the almost universal use of the clarinet and the trombone.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | Beguine - (Roman Catholic Church) a member of a lay sisterhood (one of several founded in the Netherlands in the 12th and 13th centuries); though not taking religious vows the sisters followed an austere life sisterhood - a religious society of women who live together as sisters (especially an order of nuns) Church of Rome, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Church, Western Church, Roman Catholic - the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy sister - a female person who is a fellow member of a sorority or labor union or other group; "none of her sisters would betray her" |
2. | beguine - music written in the bolero rhythm of the beguine dance dance music - music to dance to | |
3. | beguine - a ballroom dance that originated in the French West Indies; similar to the rumba ballroom dance, ballroom dancing - any of a variety of social dances performed by couples in a ballroom |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.