idyl

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a short poem or prose piece depicting peaceful rural or pastoral life

   The poet filled the volume with spring idyls set among woods and streams.

2. 2
   noun

   a musical composition with a peaceful, pastoral, or sentimental character

   The orchestra performed a gentle idyl inspired by the countryside.

A less common spelling of idyll, from Latin idyllium and Greek eidyllion, 'little form or short descriptive poem,' the diminutive of eidos, 'form.' Pastoral poems gave the word its associations with peaceful rural scenes.

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