madrigal
/ˈmæd͡ɹɪɡəl/ noun
Forms madrigals
- noun (music) A song for a small number of unaccompanied voices; from 13th century Italy.
- noun (music) A polyphonic song for about six voices, from 16th century Italy.
- noun (poetry) A short poem, often pastoral, and suitable to be set to music.
Etymology
From Italian madrigale, from Latin mātrīcālis.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A little amorous poem, sometimes called a pastoral poem, containing some tender and delicate, though simple, thought.
- noun An unaccompanied polyphonic song, in four, five, or more parts, set to secular words, but full of counterpoint and imitation, and adhering to the old church modes. Unlike the freer glee, it is best sung with several voices on a part. See Glee.
Etymology [It. madrigale, OIt. madriale, mandriale (cf. LL. matriale); of uncertain origin, possibly fr. It mandra flock, L. mandra stall, herd of cattle, Gr. madrigal, originally, a pastoral song.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “madrigal”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details