Word Study
beguine
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun beguine has 3 senses
- beguine(n = noun.person) Array - (Roman Catholic Church) a member of a lay sisterhood (one of several founded in the Netherlands in the 12th and 13th centuries); though not taking religious vows the sisters followed an austere life; Array is a member of sisterhood
- beguine(n = noun.communication) Array - music written in the bolero rhythm of the beguine dance; Array is a kind of dance music
- beguine(n = noun.act) Array - a ballroom dance that originated in the French West Indies; similar to the rumba; Array is a kind of ballroom dance, ballroom dancing
is a kind of sister
CIDE DICTIONARY
beguine, n. [F. béguine; LL. beguina, beghina; fr. Lambert le Bègue (the Stammerer) the founder of the order. (Du Cange.)].
A woman belonging to one of the religious and charitable associations or communities in the Netherlands, and elsewhere, whose members live in beguinages and are not bound by perpetual vows. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
beguine, n.
1 a popular dance of W. Indian origin.
2 its rhythm.
1 a popular dance of W. Indian origin.
2 its rhythm.
Etymology
Amer. F f. F b{eacute}guin infatuation
For further exploring for "beguine" in Webster Dictionary Online
