balladeer
|bal-la-deer|
🇺🇸
/ˌbæl.əˈdɪr/
🇬🇧
/ˌbæl.əˈdɪə/
singer of ballads
Etymology
'balladeer' originates from English, specifically formed from 'ballad' + the agentive suffix '-eer', where 'ballad' meant 'a song or poem (originally for dancing)' and '-eer' meant 'one who practices or is concerned with'.
'ballad' entered English from Middle English 'ballade', from Old French 'ballade', ultimately from Provençal/Italian 'ballata' and Latin 'ballare' meaning 'to dance'. The modern English agentive formation produced 'balladeer' (ballad + -eer).
Initially related to dance-songs or poems for dancing, the term evolved to mean a performer or composer of narrative songs — a singer of ballads, often in a folk or storytelling tradition.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a singer or performer of ballads; often a folk singer or storyteller who sings narrative songs.
The balladeer captivated the audience with his story-songs about the town's past.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a composer or arranger who specializes in writing or performing ballads.
She earned a reputation as a talented balladeer after releasing several intimate acoustic albums.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/05 21:43