释义 |
▪ I. sonnet, n.|ˈsɒnɪt| Also 6–7 sonet (6 pl. sonettes). [a. F. sonnet (1543), or ad. It. sonetto (the source of the F. word), dim. of suono sound.] 1. A piece of verse (properly expressive of one main idea) consisting of fourteen decasyllabic lines, with rimes arranged according to one or other of certain definite schemes. In the first quot. perh. including sense 2. In many instances between 1580 and 1650 it is not clear which sense is intended, as the looser use of the word would appear to have been very common.
1557(title), Songes and Sonettes, written by the..late Earle of Surrey, and other. 1575Gascoigne Posies (1907) 471, I can beste allowe to call those Sonets whiche are of fouretene lynes, every line conteyning tenne syllables. 1595W. P. in Spenser's Minor P. (1910) 370 These sweete conceited Sonets, the deede of..maister Edmond Spenser. 1609(title), Shake-speares Sonnets. Neuer before Imprinted. a1631Donne Lett. to Persons of Hon. (1651) 104 The Spanish proverb informes me, that he is a fool which cannot make one Sonnet, and he is mad which makes two. 1683Soame & Dryden tr. Boileau's Art. Poet. ii. 319 A faultless Sonnet, finish'd thus, would be Worth tedious volumes of loose poetry. a1771Gray Metrum Wks. 1843 V. 249 Sonnets of Fourteen, on Five Rhymes. [Note.] This, and the fourth kind, are the true Sonnet of the Italians. 1797A. Seward Lett. (1811) IV. 326 My design of publishing, this spring, my centenary of sonnets. 1822Hazlitt Table-t. II. ii. 19 The great object of the Sonnet seems to be to express in musical numbers,..with undivided breath, some occasional thought or personal feeling. 1841D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1867) 304 The Earl of Surrey composed the first sonnets in the English language. 1879B. Taylor Germ. Lit. 174 Fischart first introduced the Italian sonnet into German literature. 2. A short poem or piece of verse; in early use esp. one of a lyrical and amatory character. Now rare or Obs.
1563(title), Eglogs, Epytaphes, and Sonettes, newly written by Barnabe Googe. 1575Gascoigne Posies (1907) 471 Some thinke that all Poemes (being short) may be called Sonets. Ibid. 472 There are Dyzaynes & Syxaines..which some English writers do also terme by the name of Sonettes. 1599(title), Sonnets To sundry notes of Musicke. 1650J. Cotton Sing. Psalms 19 Neither doe drunkards..usually invent Sonnets. c1674Roxb. Ball. (1886) VI. 274 In this Sonnet you may find A fancy that may please your mind. 1719Hamilton Ep. Ramsay i. 43 Sae I conclude, and end my sonnet. c1820G. Beattie John of Arnha (1826) 15 My dowie sonnet Upo' the Horner's guid braid bonnet. 3. attrib. and Comb., as sonnet-book, sonnet-fancier, sonnet-like adj., sonnet-maker, sonnet-making, sonnet-thought, sonnet-wise adv., sonnet-writer, sonnet-writing; sonnet-sequence, a set of sonnets with a common theme or subject.
1657Cokayne Obstinate Lady Poems (1659) 312, I should then perhaps a had a *Sonnet-book ere this.
1824Macaulay Misc. Writ. (1860) I. 86 These *sonnet-fanciers would do well to reflect [etc.].
1874G. M. Hopkins Jrnls. & Papers (1959) 259, I looked at some delicate flying shafted ashes—there was one especially of single *sonnet-like inscape.
1691Wood Antiq. I. Fasti 761 He was at this time a pastoral *Sonnet-maker. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 147 This thirst of glory..is to be found among fiddlers and sonnet-makers.
1875Tennyson Q. Mary ii. i, No call for sonnet-sorting now, nor for *sonnet-making either.
1881D. G. Rossetti Ballads & Sonnets 161 (title) The House of Life: a *sonnet-sequence. 1929Wodehouse Mr. Mulliner Speaking v. 141 The poet who was spending the summer at the Anglers' Rest had just begun to read us his new sonnet-sequence. 1973Listener 21 June 830/2 Ever since Shakespeare the sonnet-sequence has grouped itself lightly.
1929Blunden Near & Far 59 All that deep-sighing elegy might mourn, Glad lyric hail, and *sonnet-thought adorn.
1588Greene Perimedes Wks. (Grosart) VII. 88 The yoong Prince..writ him an answer *Sonnet-wise to this effect. c1645Howell Lett. I. v. xxii, I send you the inclos'd Verses Sonnet-wise. 1824in Spirit Public Jrnls. (1825) 355 Verses written sonnet wise On London's learned Lord.
1781Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry III. 483 George Whetstone, a *sonnet-writer of some rank. 1887Encycl. Brit. XXII. 263/1 The crowning difficulty..of the sonnet writer.
1871D. G. Rossetti Let. 2 Aug. (1967) III. 964 A little *sonnet-writing gets done. 1899E. T. Fowler Double Thread ii. 18 He would willingly have instructed Milton in sonnet-writing. ▪ II. sonnet, v.|ˈsɒnɪt| [f. prec. Cf. It. sonettare.] 1. intr. To compose sonnets; to sonnetize.
1589G. Harvey Pierce's Super. i. (1593) 48 When Elderton began to ballat, Gascoine to sonnet, Turberuile to madrigal. 1597Bp. Hall Sat. i. i, Nor list I Sonnet of my Mistresse face. 1621Lady M. Wroth Urania 467 Loue was such a Lord ouer me, as I..sonnetted when hee inspired mee with it. 1658Franck North. Mem. (1821) p. xlviii, And in delightful tones sit sonneting. 1875Tennyson Q. Mary ii. i, Come, now, you're sonnetting again. 2. trans. †a. To fill with sonnets. Obs. rare.
1592Nashe P. Penilesse Wks. (Grosart) II. 27 Hee will..sonnet a whole quire of paper in praise of Lady Swin-snout. b. To celebrate in a sonnet or sonnets.
1598Meres Pallad. Tamia 280 b, Daniel hath diuinely sonetted the matchlesse beauty of his Delia. 1887St. James's Gaz. 14 Feb. (Cassell), They sonneted her. 1904S. G. Tallentyre Voltaire I. vi. 83 He sonneted his hostess now. c. With out: To utter in sonnets. rare—1.
1610G. Fletcher Christ's Vict. ii. lxii, The birds sweet notes, to sonnet out their joyes. ▪ III. sonnet see sennet1. |