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berceuse

[ French ber-sœz ]
/ French bɛrˈsœz /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR berceuse ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ber·ceuses [French ber-sœz] /French bɛrˈsœz/. Music.

a cradlesong; lullaby.
a composition for instrument or voice, having a soothing, reflective character.

RELATED WORDS

music, song, croon

Nearby words

  1. berberine,
  2. berberis,
  3. berbers,
  4. berbice,
  5. berbice chair,
  6. berchta,
  7. berchtesgaden,
  8. bercy,
  9. berdache,
  10. berdichev

Origin of berceuse

1875–80; < French, equivalent to berc(er) to rock + -euse -euse
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for berceuse

  • Every violinist plays, or ought to play, his delicious "Berceuse."

    Masters of French Music|Arthur Hervey

  • When d'Albert plays Chopin's Berceuse, beautifully, it is a lullaby for healthy male children growing too big for the cradle.

    Plays, Acting and Music|Arthur Symons

  • The plaintive melody of the berceuse rang in her ears on duty and off, till at last she could stand it no longer.

    Leerie|Ruth Sawyer

  • If you would like some more, I will play you the Berceuse now.

    The Damnation of Theron Ware|Harold Frederic
British Dictionary definitions for berceuse

berceuse

/ (French bɛrsøz) /

noun

a cradlesong or lullaby
an instrumental piece suggestive of this, in six-eight time

Word Origin for berceuse

C19: from French: lullaby, from bercer to rock
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
Word Origin and History for berceuse

berceuse

n.

"cradle song," 1876, from French berceuse "cradle-song, woman who rocks an infant," from bercer "to rock" (Old French bercier "to rock" a child in a cradle, 12c.) + fem. agent suffix -euse.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper