aubade

[ oh-bad, oh-bahd; French oh-bad ]

noun

, Music.

, plural au·bades [oh-, badz, oh-, bahdz, oh-, bad].

1. a piece sung or played outdoors at dawn, usually as a compliment to someone.

aubade

/ obad /

noun

1. a song or poem appropriate to or greeting the dawn
2. a romantic or idyllic prelude or overture

Word History and Origins

Origin of aubade¹

1670–80; < French, Middle French, equivalent to aube (< Provençal alba song about the parting of two lovers at dawn < Vulgar Latin, noun use of feminine of Latin albus white, clear) + -ade -ade ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of aubade¹

C19: from French, from Old Provençal aubada (unattested), from auba dawn, ultimately from Latin albus white

Example Sentences

A 62-year-old Air Force veteran who learned the Massachusett language only as an adult, Jamieson asked his mentor, Donald Three Bears Fisher, to approve the lyrics for “Daybreak,” the album’s first single and an ecstatic aubade with pounding drums.

From New York Times

But this dalliance with aubade was short-lived, after which Tower and Weilerstein hit the ground running.

From Washington Post

In May, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend and tour manager, Ally Dale, so he celebrates finding love during the tender aubade “In the Morning Light.”

From New York Times

One of the best, “Aubade East,” is set in Harlem.

From New York Times

But don’t mistake any old aubade for all-purpose morning music.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• star
• sunlight