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

He taught her the gavotte, the pavane, and many other dances, playing the measures on an old violin the while.

From Project Gutenberg

Very fine was the bow he made as he said: 'Mademoiselle, may I entreat the honour of your hand for the pavane?

From Project Gutenberg

So pavane followed gavotte and sarabande and the more modern minuet, and the ball was very brilliant and gay.

From Project Gutenberg

I have often seen them dancing the Pavane d'Espagne, which must be performed with the utmost majesty and grace.

From Project Gutenberg

He was enraptured to find her in so winning a mood that he proposed a pavane.

From Project Gutenberg