cinquain

noun

cin·​quain ˈsiŋ-ˌkān How to pronounce cinquain (audio) ˈsaŋ- How to pronounce cinquain (audio)
: a 5-line stanza

Examples of cinquain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Never pounded out so much as one measly cinquain for the purists. Evan Waite river Clegg, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cinquain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from cinq five, from Old French, from Latin quinque — more at five

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinquain was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near cinquain

Cite this Entry

“Cinquain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinquain. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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