pavane

[ puh-vahn, -van; French pa-van ]

noun

, plural pa·vanes [p, uh, -, vahnz, -, vanz, p, a, -, van].

1. a stately dance dating from the 16th century.
2. the music for this dance.

pavane

/ -ˈvæn; ˈpævən; pəˈvɑːn /

noun

1. a slow and stately dance of the 16th and 17th centuries
2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance, usually characterized by a slow stately triple time

Word History and Origins

Origin of pavane¹

1525–35; < Middle French < Italian pavana, contraction of padovana (feminine) of Padua ( Italian Padova )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pavane¹

C16 pavan, via French from Spanish pavana, from Old Italian padovana Paduan (dance), from Padova Padua

Example Sentences

Still, there is that perfectly shaped pearl of a pavane that, throughout it all, stays in the memory.

From Los Angeles Times

The trick is to listen closely to, say, a splendidly meandering Byrd pavane without the distracting frustration of fussing over what your ears miss, because you will miss much.

From Los Angeles Times

Without the closest of listening, the seven pavanes can otherwise, most agreeably but also least convincingly, simply flow by as inspired background music.

From Los Angeles Times

The musicians started to play, and the dancers paired for a stately pavane.

From Literature

When they had recovered enough to look around them, Kaisa said, “It is only a pavane. Come, the steps are simple.”

From Literature