Cywydd

/ˈkəwɪð/ noun

Definition

A form of Welsh verse or poetry consisting of seven-syllable lines with a specific rhyme scheme and alliterative patterns.

Etymology

From Welsh 'cywydd,' meaning 'verse' or 'harmony.' This poetic form developed in medieval Wales, particularly flourishing from the 14th-16th centuries in Welsh literature.

Kelly Says

Cywydd is Welsh poetry's gift to world literature—it's a mathematically elegant form where every line has exactly seven syllables and follows strict rhyming rules, creating a rhythmic music that made Welsh bards famous across medieval Europe.

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