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ballade

ballad (poem or song)

noun bah-LAHD Rare

Origin: Old French ballade

Usage Note

Ballade (with double-d) is a specific poetic and musical form, distinct from balade (a stroll or leisurely walk, single-d). The spelling difference is a classic French spelling trap. In medieval French poetry, a ballade had a fixed structure of three stanzas and an envoi.

Examples

"Il joue une ballade de Chopin au piano."

Natural Translation

He is playing a Chopin ballade on the piano.

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