Virelay

Virelay
Virelay Vir"e*lay, n. [F. virelai; virer to turn + lai a song, a lay.] An ancient French song, or short poem, wholly in two rhymes, and composed in short lines, with a refrain. [1913 Webster]

Of such matter made he many lays, Songs, complains, roundels, virelayes. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

To which a lady sung a virelay. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Note: ``The virelay admitted only two rhymes, and, after employing one for some time, the poet was virer, or to turn, to the other.'' --Nares. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Virelay — (fr, spr. Wihrlä), eine altfranzösische Liederform, bes. in der Picardie, mit kurzen Versen u. zwei Reimen, von denen der eine sich am Ende als Refrain wiederholt …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • virelay — [vir′əlā΄; ] Fr [ vir lā′vir′ə lā΄] n. [ME vyrelaye < MFr virelai, prob. altered by assoc. with lai (see LAY4) < OFr virli, vireli, jingle used as the refrain of a song] any of various French verse forms, popular in the 14th and 15th cent …   English World dictionary

  • Virelay — Un virelay (pl. «virelayes» o «virelais») es una forma poética medieval, frecuentemente musicada. Es una de las tres formes fixes (formas fijas, las otras eran la balada y el rondó), y fue una de las métricas más comunes en Europa desde la… …   Wikipedia Español

  • virelay — I. Virelay. subst. m. Sorte d ancienne petite poësie Françoise qui est toute sur deux rimes, & de vers courts avec des refreins. II. VIRELAY. s. m. Sorte d ancienne petite poësie Françoise qui est toute sur deux rimes, & de vers courts avec des… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • virelay — /vir euh lay /, n. Pros. 1. an old French form of short poem, composed of short lines running on two rhymes and having two opening lines recurring at intervals. 2. any of various similar or other forms of poem, as one consisting of stanzas made… …   Universalium

  • virelay — noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French virelai Date: 14th century a chiefly French verse form consisting of stanzas of indeterminate length and number with alternating long and short lines and interlaced rhyme (as abab bcbc cdcd dada) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • virelay — [ vɪrəleɪ] noun a short lyric poem of a type originating in medieval France. Origin ME: from OFr. virelai …   English new terms dictionary

  • virelay — vir·e·lay …   English syllables

  • virelay — vir•e•lay or vir•e•lai [[t]ˈvɪr əˌleɪ[/t]] n. pl. lays or lais pro an old French form of short poem, composed of short lines running on two rhymes and having two opening lines recurring at intervals • Etymology: 1350–1400; ME < OF virelai …   From formal English to slang

  • virelay — /ˈvɪrəleɪ/ (say viruhlay) noun 1. an old French form of short poem, with short lines running on two rhymes, and having two opening lines recurring at intervals. 2. any of various similar or other forms of poem, as one consisting of stanzas made… …  

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”