roundelay

noun

roun·​de·​lay ˈrau̇n-də-ˌlā How to pronounce roundelay (audio)
1
: a simple song with a refrain
2
: a poem with a refrain recurring frequently or at fixed intervals as in a rondel

Examples of roundelay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Joining as a permanent member in 1971, Christine McVie weathered a roundelay of lineup changes within Fleetwood Mac that saw the departures of guitarists-singers-songwriters Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan and the ascent of American singer-songwriter-guitarist Bob Welch. Chris Morris, Variety, 30 Nov. 2022 But as her success spikes exponentially, so does the film's momentum, shifting toward the more familiar touchstones of a traditional music doc: The smear of foreign cities seen through a town-car window; the endless roundelay of interviews, meet-and-greets, and promo signings. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2021 The other two notable participants in the nearly farcical roundelay of romances are Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm (Cooper Grodin) and his wife, Charlotte (Sierra Boggess). Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Kusijanović, making her feature directing debut, plots the family’s dynamic through a roundelay of gazes and with near-geometric precision. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2022 Still, this loose-limbed romantic roundelay — gorgeously filmed in black and white by the French director Jacques Audiard — glows with a spirit of playful, limitless possibility. Justin Changfilm Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2022 The house had a feeling of being offstage, at least compared with the comic roundelay of Turtle Bay. D. T. Max, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2022 The story itself is pure Western pulp, a dime-store roundelay of banditos, lost dreams, and femme fatales. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 17 Sep. 2021 What followed was a frustrating roundelay in which Chime directed Robertson to the IRS, and the IRS directed her to Chime. Carson Kessler, ProPublica, 6 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, modification of Middle French rondelet, diminutive of rondel

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roundelay was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near roundelay

Cite this Entry

“Roundelay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roundelay. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

roundelay

noun
roun·​de·​lay ˈrau̇n-də-ˌlā How to pronounce roundelay (audio)
: a simple song with refrain

More from Merriam-Webster on roundelay

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!