beguine

[ buh-geen ]
/ bəˈgin /

noun

a dance in bolero rhythm that originated in Martinique.
a modern social dance based on the beguine.
music for either of these dances.

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Origin of beguine

1930–35; < French (West Indies) béguine, feminine derivative of béguin biggin1, trifling love affair

Words nearby beguine

begrudge, begrudgery, beguile, beguiling, beguin, beguine, begum, begun, behalf, behan, behave

Definition for beguine (2 of 2)

Beguine
[ beg-een, bey-geen, buh-geen ]
/ ˈbɛg in, ˈbeɪ gin, bəˈgin /

noun Roman Catholic Church.

a member of a lay sisterhood, founded in Liège in the 12th century.

Origin of Beguine

1350–1400; Middle English begyne < Middle French beguine, said to be after Lambert (le) Begue (the stammerer), founder of the order; see -ine1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for beguine

British Dictionary definitions for beguine (1 of 2)

beguine
/ (bɪˈɡiːn) /

noun

a dance of South American origin in bolero rhythm
a piece of music in the rhythm of this dance
a variant of biggin 1

Word Origin for beguine

C20: from Louisiana French, from French béguin flirtation

British Dictionary definitions for beguine (2 of 2)

Beguine
/ (ˈbɛɡiːn) /

noun

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

Word Origin for Beguine

C15: from Old French, perhaps after Lambert le Bègue (the Stammerer), 12th-century priest of Liège, who founded the sisterhood
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012