How Do You Spell SESTINA?

Pronunciation: [sɛstˈiːnə] (IPA)

The word "sestina" is a poetic form that originated in medieval Italy. It is spelled s-e-s-t-i-n-a in English and pronounced /sɛstˈiːnə/. This word contains the vowel sound /ɛ/ in the first syllable, followed by the consonant blend /st/. The second syllable contains the vowel sound /i/, and the final syllable ends with the vowel sound /ə/. To correctly pronounce this word, stress should be placed on the first syllable, as indicated by the primary accent mark (ˈ).

SESTINA Meaning and Definition

1. A sestina is a highly structured form of poetry consisting of six six-line stanzas (or sestets) and a final three-line stanza (or envoy). Each stanza uses the same six end-words, which are repeated in a pattern throughout the poem. The first stanza establishes a pattern of end-words, which is then followed in the subsequent stanzas. The end-words in each sestet are arranged in a specific order. The pattern typically involves rotating the end-words, so that the final word of each line in the first stanza is used as the second-to-last word in the next stanza, and so on. However, the final sestet rearranges these end-words into three tercets, with all six words appearing in a specific order. In addition to the end-word pattern, sestinas often employ intricate wordplays and rhetorical devices.

   The sestina form is an ancient poetic tradition that originated in medieval Provence, France. It was popularized by Italian poet Dante Alighieri in the 13th century and has since been adopted by many poets across different languages and periods. The strict structure and repetition in a sestina make it a challenging form to master, requiring careful planning and attention to detail. The complex interplay of recurring end-words creates a sense of cyclical movement and creates opportunities for nuanced exploration and thematic development. Sestinas, with their intricate patterns and wordplays, offer a unique and rewarding experience for both readers and writers of poetry.

Common Misspellings for SESTINA

• Sastine
• cestina
• sastina
• Sesina
• westina
• swstina
• ssstina
• sdstina
• srstina
• s4stina
• s3stina
• seztina
• sextina
• sedtina
• seetina
• sewtina
• sesgina
• sesyina
• ses6ina
• ses5ina

Etymology of SESTINA

The word "sestina" has its roots in Italian. It is derived from the Italian word "sesto" (meaning sixth), which refers to the structure of the poem. A sestina is a fixed form of poetry consisting of six stanzas of six lines each and a final triplet, totaling 39 lines. The name "sestina" was coined to signify the sixfold repetition of the end-words in each stanza. The form was popularized by poets like Dante and Petrarch in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Plural form of SESTINA is SESTINAS