sirvente

American  

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

Or sirventes

noun

plural

sirventes

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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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

Example Sentences

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 Saintsbury, George

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 Yonge, Charlotte Mary

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 Elson, Arthur

A sirvente by an anonymous troubadour shows how anxiously he was expected in Languedoc.

From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume I by Lea, Henry Charles

Perhaps the most famous, peculiar, and representative of Provençal forms are the alba, or poem of morning parting, and the sirvente, or poem not of love.

From The Flourishing of Romance and the Rise of Allegory (Periods of European Literature, vol. II) by Saintsbury, George