Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A song, especially a French one.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A song. Originally, a short poem in a simple, natural style, in stanzas called couplets, each usually accompanied by a refrain, intended to be sung. Later, any short lyric poem, and the music to which it is set.
- n. A finger-ring with an inscription. See posy-ring.
- n. The motto on a ring.
Wiktionary
- n. Any song with French words, but more specifically classic, lyric-driven French songs.
- n. A religious song.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A song.
Etymologies
- French, from Old French, from Latin cantiō, cantiōn-, from cantus, past participle of cantāre, to sing; see chant.
Examples
“The 'chanson' -- _i. e._, the dance tune, was played on the flute, and accompanied by the 'tabourin' or drum, which beats all the time.”
Shakespeare and Music With Illustrations from the Music of the 16th and 17th centuries
“Her style is often described as "chanson" but in fact, it mixes classic French elements with American pop and rock music.”
“-- [MS.] [236] {504} [Brantôme (_Memoires, etc. _, 1722, i. 215) quotes a "chanson" of "Les soldats Espagnols" as they marched Romewards.”
“With their inherent drama, influenced by French chanson , his new songs could be easily rearranged for vocalists as varied as Chris Isaacs, Raul Malo or Bon Iver's Justin Vernon; the late Roy Orbison would have had much to choose from had he the chance to explore the Condon canon.”
The Wall Street Journal: The Heart of Beirut's Brass Melancholia
“Although seen as the ultimate living exponent of la chanson française , Mr. Aznavour's roots are Armenian.”
“Though these trio gigs with local bass and drums partners Geoff Gascoyne and Sebastiaan de Krom will likely focus on his massive songwriting CV and long involvement with chanson rather than improv pianistics, they're a rare chance to hear a legend of 20th-century popular composition at close range.”
“I am driving the kids home from school, singing a silly French chanson -- something I have just made up, based on the latest grammar correction I've received from my French son -- when the latter puts a stop to my singing.”
“French Vocabulary la chanson (f) = song; bon, ça suffit!”
““Le mousse” de la chanson enfantine “Il était un petit navire” was the youngest of “les matelots” and might have been your age perhaps?”
“Jour "J" pour te chanter le bon vieux refrain de la chanson populaire:”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘chanson’.
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