Makar

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A poet, especially one who writes in Scots language or literature; a skilled creator of verses or songs; a term historically used to denote a bard or court poet
2. An individual recognized for composing poetry, often associated with Scottish poetic tradition; a literary artist crafting expressive or narrative verses; historically, a member of a royal court known for poetic talent
3. Someone who produces poetic works, frequently linked to Scotland's classical poetic heritage; a creative writer of metrical compositions; traditionally a figure honored for their role in royal or noble courts as poets

Etymology: "Makar" is a Scots word for a poet, and it is a doublet of "maker": the two words come from the same source but reached English by different routes. In Middle Scots, a "makar" was a poet in the older sense of one who makes or shapes verse, the same idea of making that gave English "maker" its meaning of a creator. The word belongs to the Scottish literary tradition of the late medieval and early modern period, when poets such as William Dunbar and Robert Henryson wrote under this name. The modern sense is a deliberate revival. Scotland's national poet, a title first given to Robert Burns and later used more widely, has been called the "makar", and the word has come back into use as a formal title for the national laureate. Its meaning therefore runs from a general word for a craftsman of verse, to a specific label for the Scottish poet laureate.

Synonyms: poet, bard, writer, versifier

Antonyms: reader, audience