Spenserian

American  

[spen-seer-ee-uhn] / spɛnˈsɪər i ən /

adjective

1. of or characteristic of Spenser or his work.

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noun

1. an imitator of Spenser.

2. Spenserian stanza.

3. verse in Spenserian stanzas.

Spenserian British  

/ spɛnˈsɪərɪən /

adjective

1. relating to, in the style of, or characteristic of Edmund Spenser, the English poet (?1552–99), or his poetry

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noun

1. a student or imitator of Edmund Spenser

Etymology

Origin of Spenserian

First recorded in 1810–20; Spenser + -ian

Example Sentences

She has been painted as the defiant Gloriana of Spenserian epic, uniting the land in religion and peace, and the mercurial crone lusting after her younger courtiers.

From Economist • Apr. 28, 2016

He didn’t espouse modernism or the avant garde, favoring instead American vernacular styles, Spenserian scripts and a sort of hybrid modernism.

From Salon • Jun. 25, 2012

As with a Spenserian sonnet, there's a uniformity to the open letters to Lucas.

From Time Magazine Archive

Jerusalem Delivered, translated into English Spenserian; with a Life of the Author, by J. H.

From Notes and Queries, Number 234, April 22, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various

It may be questioned whether, fine as The Revolt of Islam is, the Spenserian stanza was quite so well suited as the "Pindaric" or as blank verse, or as lyrical measures, to Shelley's genius.

From A History of Nineteenth Century Literature (1780-1895) by Saintsbury, George