beguine

Thân thiện

A couple dances the beguine at a lively social gathering.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A ballroom dance: A social dance that originated in the French West Indies, characterized by a moderate tempo and a rhythm similar to, but distinct from, the rumba.
   • A piece of music: Music composed in the characteristic rhythm of the beguine dance, often resembling a slow bolero.
   • A member of a Christian lay sisterhood: A woman belonging to one of the pious lay communities founded in the Netherlands during the 12th and 13th centuries, who lived a religious, austere life without taking formal vows.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Dance):
  • The couple performed a graceful beguine at the competition.
  • She learned to dance the beguine during her travels.
• Noun (Music):
  • The orchestra played a popular beguine from the 1930s.
  • Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine" is the most famous song in that style.
• Noun (Religious Sister):
  • The beguine dedicated her life to prayer and charitable work within the city.
  • Historians study the writings of medieval beguines.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Reference: The term is often used in historical or musical contexts to evoke a specific time, place, or artistic style.
  • The novel's setting included a description of a beguine community in medieval Bruges.
  • His research focuses on the musical structure of the beguine.

Variants and Related Words

• Beguinage (n): A community or complex of buildings housing beguines.
  • The beguinage in Amsterdam is a well-preserved historical site.

Synonyms

• For the dance: Dance, ballroom dance.
• For the music: Composition, piece, dance music.
• For the sister: Lay sister, pious woman, member of a lay community.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The three meanings are historically and semantically distinct. The dance and its music originate from the Caribbean in the 19th/20th century, while the religious sisterhood is European and medieval. Context is essential to determine which meaning is intended.
  • In a discussion about medieval Christianity, "beguine" refers to the religious woman.
  • In a conversation about ballroom dancing or jazz standards, it refers to the dance or music.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a ballroom dance that originated in the French West Indies; similar to the rumba
2. music written in the bolero rhythm of the beguine dance
3. (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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• beguine