sirvente
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sir·vente
(sîr-väNt′, sər-vĕnt′) also sir·ven·tes (sər-vĕn′tĭs, -vĕnts′)n. pl. sir·ventes (-väNt′, -vĕnts′) also sir·vent·es (-vĕn′təs)
A form of lyric verse of the Provençal troubadours satirizing political figures, personal rivals, or social morals.
[French, from Provençal sirventes, from Old Provençal, from sirvent, servant (the position of a lover towards his mistress), from Latin serviēns, servient-, present participle of servīre, to serve, from servus, servant.]
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.
sirvente
(səˈvɛnt)n
(Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a verse form employed by the troubadours of Provence to satirize moral or political themes
[C19: via French from Provençal sirventes song of a servant (that is, of a lover serving his mistress), from sirvent a servant, from Latin servīre to serve]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sir•vente
(sɪərˈvɑnt)also sir•ven•tes
(-ˈvɛn tɪs)n., pl. -ventes (-ˈvɑnt, -ˈvɑnts) also -ven•tes (-ˈvɛn tɪs)
a medieval poem or song of heroic or satirical character, as composed by a troubadour.
[1810–20; < Occitan sirventes literally, pertaining to a servant, i.e., lover]
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