sirvente

American  

[ser-vent, seer-vahnt] / sərˈvɛnt, sirˈvɑ̃t /

Or sirventes

noun

• sirventes
  plural

1. a medieval poem or song of heroic or satirical character, as composed by a troubadour.

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sirvente British  

/ səˈvɛnt /

noun

1. a verse form employed by the troubadours of Provence to satirize moral or political themes

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sirventes
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of sirvente

1810–20; back formation from Provençal sirventes literally, pertaining to a servant, i.e., lover (the -s being taken as plural sign). See servant, -ese

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sirvente sirventes

It has even been doubted whether the serventois is not the forerunner of the sirvente instead of the reverse being the case.

From A Short History of French Literature by George Saintsbury

Again, the Provençal sirvente is represented by the northern serventois, a poem in Chanson form, but occupied instead of love with war, satire, religion, and miscellaneous matters.

From A Short History of French Literature by George Saintsbury

The sirvente was a song of war or politics, sometimes satirical, sometimes in praise of the exploits of a generous patron.

From Woman's Work in Music by Arthur Elson

Barral had composed and committed to memory a sirvente or song of battle which he proposed to write out, paper and quill being permitted him in deference to his broken jaw.

From Romance of Roman Villas (The Renaissance) by Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams) Champney

He deemed himself forgotten in his captivity, and composed an indignant sirvente in his favorite Provençal tongue.

From Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward II by Charlotte Mary Yonge

His political sirventes show an insight into the affairs of his age, which is in strong contrast to the whimsicality which seems to have misguided his own life.

From The Troubadours by H.J. Chaytor

The songs of the Provençals were divided into chanzos and sirventes; the object of the former was love, and of the latter war, politics, or satire.

From Handbook of Universal Literature From the Best and Latest Authorities by Anne C. Lynch Botta

From the chanso the sirventes is distinguished by its subject matter; it was the vehicle for satire, moral reproof or political lampooning.

From The Troubadours by H.J. Chaytor

Bertran is especially famous for his political sirventes and for the martial note which rings through much of his poetry.

From The Troubadours by H.J. Chaytor

The poets of the former race were called "Minstrels", and their poems "Lays": those of the latter were termed "Troubadours", and their compositions called "sirventes", and other names.

From Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

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