Petrarchan

[ pi-trahr-kuhn ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the works of Petrarch.
2. characteristic or imitative of the style of Petrarch.

noun

1. Petrarchist.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Petrarchan¹

First recorded in 1820–30; Petrarch + -an

Example Sentences

Livia Chiavello, of Fabriano, was celebrated as one of the most brilliant representatives of the Petrarchan school.

From Project Gutenberg

As a result they introduced the Sonnet of the Petrarchan type into England.

From Project Gutenberg

The form generally used by poets writing in English is what is called the Petrarchan sonnet.

From Project Gutenberg

This of course was Shakespeare's method, but Shakespeare, as we have seen, was not making Petrarchan sonnets.

From Project Gutenberg