idyll

American  

[ahyd-l] / ˈaɪd l /

Or idyl

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.

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idyll British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of idyll

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

Example Sentences

In her columns for “Smart Housekeeping,” Elizabeth presides over an idyll of New England domesticity.

From Salon

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

Related Words

• breathing space
• lull
• respite