Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Alternate singing and weeping. See etymology.
- noun In architecture, a narrow vertical hole or slit in a wall, to let the overflow of a stream or any other water that may collect pass through.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb archaic To
sing andcry at the same time.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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She assumed as her impresa the chantepleure, with the sorrowful motto: "Plus ne m'est rien: rien ne m'est plus."
Illuminated Manuscripts John William Bradley 1873
peacoat commented on the word chantepleure
French, archaic english. To sing and cry at the same time.
December 8, 2006
sumit commented on the word chantepleure
What a beautiful concept and word, and one that I'll find use for more often than I'd prefer.
December 12, 2006
mstuckings commented on the word chantepleure
How lovely!
February 20, 2007
alguien commented on the word chantepleure
Not a modern English word, I gather.
February 20, 2007
seanahan commented on the word chantepleure
I normally don't like French words, but I like this one.
February 20, 2007
tankexmortis commented on the word chantepleure
How very emo.
August 7, 2008
whichbe commented on the word chantepleure
Name of a French poem of the 13th c. addressed to those who sing (chanter) in this world and shall weep (pleurer) in the next: hence used of a mixture or alternation of joy and sorrow. (French; The word has several senses in mod.F., e.g. ‘weep-hole’, ‘flood-opening’ in a wall, etc., which have not entered into English.) - OED)
August 28, 2008