Kyrielles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A form of poetry characterized by repeated lines or phrases in a rhyming structure, often expressing deep emotion or thought
2. A type of verse that employs refrains and elaborate patterns, creating a lyrical and musical quality
3. A poetic composition distinguished by its use of repetition and intricate rhyme schemes, conveying thematic depth and rhythm

Etymology: The word "kyrielles" is simply the plural of "kyrielle," a term borrowed from French. Its French source name is "kyrielle," which comes from the Greek "kyrie," the opening word of the Latin liturgical prayer "Kyrie eleison" ("Lord, have mercy"). That line was sung repeatedly in church services, and medieval verse forms built on repeated refrains took their name from it. The sense of a long chain of things, a rapid succession, is what remains in the French word, and English adopted the form that carries the repeated, looping structure of the poems. The plural form simply reflects that the term refers to multiple such verses or sequences.