Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

minstrelsy

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.91 in modern English

Syllables: min-strel-sy
IPA

15

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The musical and other art and craft of a minstrel.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A group of minstrels.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Any similar modern group performing song and verse.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A collection of minstrel ballads.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Orfeo makes his way into this palace, and so charms the king with his minstrelsy, that he gives him back his wife."
"They, of course, would change, but not again could she; henceforth no music for her in the Bush birds' minstrelsy, no pleasure in rivalry with buttercups for the butterflies' kiss."

Etymology

From Middle English minstralcie, from 13th century Anglo-Norman menestralsie, menestralcie, from Old French menestrel (“minstrel”), itself from Medieval Latin ministralis (“servant, jester, singer”), from Late Latin ministerialis (“imperial household officer, one having an official duty”), from the adjective ministerialis (“ministerial, servants”), from Latin ministerium (“service”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: minstralcie, menestralsie, menestrel, ministralis, ministerialis, ministerium

Usage

Inflected Forms

minstrelsies (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

minstrelry

Questions

What does minstrelsy mean?: The musical and other art and craft of a minstrel.
Where does minstrelsy come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce minstrelsy

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