sirvente

or sir·ventes

[ ser-vent; French seer-vahnt ]

noun

, plural sir·ventes [ser-, vents, see, r, -, vahnt].

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

sirvente

/ səˈvɛnt /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sirvente¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sirvente¹

C19: via French from Provençal sirventes song of a servant (that is, of a lover serving his mistress), from sirvent a servant, from Latin servīre to serve

Example Sentences

If he had a turn for dramatics he had certainly indulged it now, and given himself strong meat for a new Sirvente of Kings.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

The rhymes in the sirvente differed from what we consider correct by consisting always of a repetition of the same word.

From Project Gutenberg

Sirvente, sir-vont′, n. a satirical song of the 12th-13th century trouvres and troubadours.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg