troubadour English · revision 1533

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1727}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtruːbəˌdɔː/ ''(UK)''; /ˈtrubəˌdɔr/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|troubadour]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[pro|trobador]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[m|pro|trobar|t=to find; earlier, to invent a song, compose in verse]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) perhaps from [[la-vul|*tropāre|t=to compose, sing]], especially in the form of tropes,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la|tropus|t=song; trope]] (see [[trope]]).^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[fr|trouver|t=to find]] and [[trouvère]] are from the same verb.^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966)^(Weekley 1921) Etymonline reports a rival theory among French etymologists.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One of a class of lyric poets of southern France, eastern Spain and northern Italy in the 11th to 13th centuries (1727 in Etymonline and Barnhart; 1727–41 in the OED; about 1741 in Merriam-Webster).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The troubadours wrote in the language of Provence, in complex metrical forms, chiefly about [[courtly love]];^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023) many were of knightly rank.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024) From 1826 the word was extended to anyone who composes or sings verses or ballads,^(OED 1989) and to a strolling minstrel or a singer of folk songs.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1727 – a Provençal lyric poet.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1826 – any composer or singer of verses.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1849 – ''troubadourish''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # One of a class of lyric poets and poet-musicians of the 11th to 13th centuries, chiefly in [[Provence]] and northern Italy, who composed songs in the [[langue d'oc]], mostly about courtly love.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A strolling [[minstrel]]; a singer, especially of folk songs.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[trouvère]]

+ * [[trope]]

+ * [[trover]]

+ * [[contrive]]

+ * [[jongleur]]

+ * [[minstrel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}