sestet

[ se-stet, ses-tet ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Prosody. the last six lines of a sonnet in the Italian form, considered as a unit. Compare octave ( def 4a ).
sextet ( def 2 ).

sestet

/ sɛˈstɛt /

Origin of sestet¹

1795–1805; < Italian sestetto sextet, equivalent to sest ( o ) (< Latin sextus sixth ) + -etto -et

Origin of sestet¹

C19: from Italian sestetto, from sesto sixth, from Latin sextus, from sex six

The rhymes of the first two quatrains are usually the same; those of the sestet are variously arranged.

It is divided into two parts: the first consisting of an octave or double quatrain, and the other of a sestet.

It consists of six double stanzas, of fourteen lines or two septets each, finished by a sestet, aabaab.

The sestet may be taken as an excellent example of the manner in which Mozart turned his means of representation to account.

The moderated tone of the piece is of very good effect after the ponderous length of the sestet.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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