Idylls

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A peaceful or picturesque scene, often representing a simple, idealized rural life or atmosphere
2. a literary work that conveys a narrative of pastoral beauty and harmony
3. an episode or situation evoking tranquility and serenity, typically set in a natural landscape or countryside

Etymology: The plural here is simply the regular "-s" form of "idyll," so the story belongs to the singular. The Greek "eidyllion" was a diminutive of "eidos," meaning "form" or "shape," so its literal sense was something like "little picture." Greek poets used the term for short, self-contained poems, and the sense of a small, carefully shaped piece of work is what lies behind the word. The Latin "idyllium" carried that Greek idea across, and English took the word from Latin. Over time the sense narrowed. The idyll came to mean a short poem about rustic life, usually set among shepherds and farmers and showing an unspoiled, peaceful countryside. That is why the plural "idylls" today points to a literary work built around pastoral calm rather than to any small picture.

Synonyms: pastorals, scenes