idyll

Or i·dyl

[ahyd-l]

noun

1. a delightful, tranquil rural scene or episode, reminiscent of or suitable for pastoral art or literature.

   A great many horror movies are set in a suburban idyll.

2. a short descriptive or narrative poem or prose work, depicting a pleasant, tranquil, idealized pastoral scene or event, or any charmingly simple episode in literature.

3. A long narrative poem on a major theme, but less elevated and formal in subject matter, language, and tone than an epic.

   Tennyson's Idylls of the King is an elegaic retelling of Arthurian legend.

4. a brief or inconsequential romantic affair.

5. Music.,  a composition, usually instrumental, of a pastoral or sentimental character.

idyll

/ ˈɪdɪl /

noun

1. a poem or prose work describing an idealized rural life, pastoral scenes, etc

2. any simple narrative or descriptive piece in poetry or prose

3. a charming or picturesque scene or event

4. a piece of music with a calm or pastoral character

Word History and Origins

Origin of idyll¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin īdyllium from Greek eidýllion “short pastoral poem,” equivalent to eíd(os) “form” + -yllion diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of idyll¹

C17: from Latin īdyllium, from Greek eidullion, from eidos shape, (literary) form

Example Sentences

Rather than unique traditions or idyll, Bali today is better known for its beach clubs and surf houses.

From BBC

"It's a beautiful, unspoilt rural idyll that somehow exists in its own timelessness, as if awaiting the return of John Constable," wrote Barclay in a review posted in October 2024.

From BBC

Twain’s river idyll ended with the Civil War.

From Los Angeles Times

They’re finally playing the other verdant, globally recognized outdoor music venue that embodies the Southern California idyll — the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

From Los Angeles Times

The idyll was hemmed in by immaculate office buildings housing high-profile Hollywood and tech tenants including Amazon, Oracle and AMC Networks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• breathing space 
• lull 
• respite