roundelay

/'raudilei/

Thân thiện

A group of friends sings a cheerful roundelay around the campfire.

Definition

Noun: 1. A short, simple song with a recurring refrain: A roundelay is a type of song, often lyrical or pastoral in nature, characterized by having a line or phrase that is repeated at regular intervals as a refrain or chorus. 2. A dance in a circle: (Archaic/Historical) The word can also refer to a dance performed in a circle, often accompanying such a song.

Usage

The word "roundelay" is primarily used in literary or musical contexts to describe a specific poetic or song form. It often evokes a sense of simplicity, repetition, and a pastoral or romantic mood. The archaic meaning related to dance is rarely used in modern English.

Examples

• Literary/Musical Context:
  • The poet composed a gentle roundelay about the changing seasons.
  • In the meadow, she sang a cheerful roundelay, its familiar refrain echoing through the valley.
• Archaic Usage:
  • The villagers joined hands for a merry roundelay around the old oak tree.

Advanced Usage

• As a poetic form: In poetry, a roundelay can refer to a fixed form poem with a specific pattern of repetition and rhyme, derived from the song structure.
  • His sonnet was followed by a lighter roundelay in the collection.

Variants and Related Words

• Roundel (noun): A related term, often referring to a short poem similar to a rondeau or a circular form or object. It shares the root with "roundelay" but is distinct.
  • The stained-glass window featured a beautiful roundel.

Synonyms

• Refrain: A repeated line or phrase in a song or poem (this is a component of a roundelay, not a full synonym).
• Chorus: A part of a song repeated after each verse.
• Lay: A short narrative or lyrical poem meant to be sung (archaic).
• Ditty: A short, simple song.

Antonyms

• Prose: Ordinary written or spoken language without metrical structure.
• Recitative: A style of delivery in opera or oratorio where words are sung in a rhythm approximating speech, with little melodic repetition.

Related Idioms or Phrases

• None directly associated: There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs that use the word "roundelay" itself. Its usage is confined to the specific term for the song or dance form.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a song in which a line or phrase is repeated as the refrain