ballad

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English

Etymology

From French ballade, from Old Occitan ballada (poem for a dance), from Late Latin ballare. Doublet of ballade.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbæləd/
  • (Appalachians, obsolete) IPA(key): /ˈbælɪt/
  • (file)

Noun

ballad (plural ballads)

  1. A kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing; especially, a sentimental or romantic poem in short stanzas.
    The poet composed a ballad praising the heroic exploits of the fallen commander.
    • 1882, John Ashton, “Origin of Ballads”, in John Skelton, A Ballade of the Scottysshe Kynge. , London: Elliot Stock, , →OCLC, page 1:
      Of all varieties of poetry, the Ballad, in the form which it affects among us, in distinction to other countries, is, perhaps, one of the most attractive.
    • 1885, Gilbert and Sullivan, The Mikado, act 1:
      A wandering minstrel I — / A thing of shreds and patches, / Of ballads, songs and snatches, / And dreamy lullaby!
  2. A slow romantic song.
    On Friday nights, the roller rink had a time-block called "Lovers' Lap" when they played nothing but ballads on the overhead speakers.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

ballad (third-person singular simple present ballads, present participle ballading, simple past and past participle balladed)

  1. (obsolete) To make mention of in ballads.
  2. (intransitive) To compose or sing ballads.

Translations

References

  1. ^ Hall, Joseph Sargent (March 2, 1942), “3. The Consonants”, in The Phonetics of Great Smoky Mountain Speech (American Speech: Reprints and Monographs; 4), New York: King's Crown Press, →DOI, →ISBN, § 6, page 98.