- Today's Word
Ballad
[BAL-uhd]
Definition
- (noun) A song or poem that tells a story, typically in simple verses with a repeated refrain. It often deals with romantic, historical, or dramatic themes and is usually written in a simple, direct style that makes it easy to remember and share.
Example
The old sailor sang a haunting ballad about a shipwreck, moving everyone in the tavern to tears with its tragic tale and memorable chorus.
Fun Fact
The word “ballad” comes from the Latin “ballare,” meaning “to dance,” via the Old French “balade.” Originally, ballads were primarily dance songs, performed as people moved in circles. In medieval Europe, ballads served as a form of news distribution, with traveling performers spreading stories of current events through song. These “news ballads” were the medieval equivalent of today’s viral social media posts! Professional ballad singers, known as “balladeers,” would often stand in town squares or marketplaces, selling printed copies of their songs for a penny – creating one of the earliest forms of the music publishing industry. Interestingly, while modern ballads are often associated with slow, romantic songs, many traditional ballads were quite upbeat and dealt with scandalous topics like murder, infidelity, and political intrigue. The format was so effective at spreading information that during various periods in history, authorities would sometimes ban certain ballads for fear of their influence on public opinion.
(adjective) Relentlessly stern and humorless in manner; gloomy and forbidding in appearance or disposition.
The dour headmaster presided over every assembly with the expression of someone who had personally witnessed the decline of civilization and held the students responsible.