See Also: madrigal(medicine)
madrigal(dictionary)
madrigal(encyclopedia)
madrigal(dictionary)

madrigal (iou)



madrigal noun. L16.
[Italian from medieval Latin matricalis mother: cf. medieval Latin ecclesia matrix mother church, MATRIX noun.]
1. A short lyrical love poem. L16.
2. Music. A part-song for several voices, spec. one of a 16th- or 17th-cent. Italian style, arranged in elaborate counterpoint, and sung without instrumental accompaniment. Also, a 14th-cent. Italian pastoral song of several stanzas. L16.
C. Burney The most chearful species of secular Music..was that of madrigals.
3. gen. A song, a ditty. L16.
J. Clare Thrushes chant their madrigals.
madriga'lesque adjective having the features or characteristics of a madrigal E20.
madrigalian adjective pertaining to, consisting or characteristic of, or dealing with madrigals M19.
madri'galianism noun = madrigalism L20.
madrigalism noun a musical feature characteristic of a madrigal, esp. the illustration of lyrics through vocal composition M20.
madrigalist noun a writer or composer of madrigals L18.