How Do You Spell CITOLE?

Pronunciation: [sˈɪtə͡ʊl] (IPA)

Citole is a musical instrument that was popular in the Middle Ages. The spelling of this word is tricky because it is pronounced differently than it appears. The IPA phonetic transcription for citole is /ˈsɪtəl/, which shows that the emphasis is on the first syllable, and the "o" at the end is silent. This is a great example of how the English language can be confusing, and why it's important to learn the proper pronunciation of unfamiliar words.

CITOLE Meaning and Definition

1. A citole is a medieval musical instrument that belongs to the family of stringed instruments, particularly lutes. It is considered a precursor to the modern guitar, resembling a small-sized, pear-shaped guitar with a flat back. The citole enjoyed popularity in Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries, especially in England and France.

   The instrument features a hollow soundboard, commonly made of wood, which is connected to a long, fretted neck. It typically has four or five strings, configured in pairs and played together, with the pairings usually tuned in unison or octaves. These strings are plucked with the fingers or played using a small plectrum or quill.

   The citole produces a soft and delicate tone, and its musical range is limited compared to other medieval instruments. It was commonly used in vocal accompaniment, providing a gentle harmonic background for singers and other instrumentalists. Its compact size and portability made it a favored instrument among troubadours, minstrels, and itinerant musicians.

   Today, the citole holds historical and scholarly significance, as it represents an integral part of medieval musical culture. Although it has become obsolete and is rarely played in contemporary musical contexts, its influence on the development of stringed instruments is noteworthy. The citole's distinct shape and construction continue to be examined by scholars and musicians, shedding light on the evolution of the guitar and other related instruments.

Common Misspellings for CITOLE

• xitole
• vitole
• fitole
• cutole
• cjtole
• cktole
• cotole
• c9tole
• c8tole
• cirole
• cifole
• cigole
• ciyole
• ci6ole
• ci5ole
• citile
• citkle
• citlle
• citple
• ciitole

Etymology of CITOLE

The word Citole has its origins in the Old French term cistre, which was derived from the Latin word cithara. The Latin term itself was borrowed from the Greek kithara, meaning a type of lyre. The term citole referred to a medieval musical instrument that resembled a small, stringed instrument or lute, popular in Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries. Over time, the word citole evolved into various spellings such as cytole, sytolle, or sytole.

Plural form of CITOLE is CITOLES