Sestina definition

sĕ-stēnə
sestinas sestine
See word origin
Frequency:
A verse form first used by the Provençal troubadours, consisting of six six-line stanzas and a three-line envoy. The end words of the first stanza are repeated in varied order as end words in the other stanzas and also recur in the envoy.
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An elaborate verse form of six six-line stanzas and a tercet: the end words of the first stanza are repeated in varying combinations in the other five stanzas and the tercet.
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(poetry) A highly structured poem consisting of six six-line stanzas followed by a tercet or envoy, for a total of thirty-nine lines.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
sestina
Plural:
sestinas

Origin of sestina

  • Italian from sesto sixth from Latin sextus s(w)eks in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Italian sestina.

    From Wiktionary