Beguine

Beg·uine  (bgn, b-gn)

n. Roman Catholic Church

A member of any of several lay sisterhoods founded in the Netherlands in the 13th century.

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[Middle English begine, from Old French beguine, from Middle Dutch beg-, root of beggaert, one who rattles off prayers.]

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be·guine  (b-gn)

n.

1. A ballroom dance similar to the rumba, based on a dance of Martinique and St. Lucia.

2. The music for this dance.

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[French (West Indies) béguine, from French béguin, hood, flirtation, from beguine, Beguine; see Beguine.]

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beguine [bɪˈgiːn]

n

1. (Performing Arts / Dancing) a dance of South American origin in bolero rhythm

2. (Music, other) a piece of music in the rhythm of this dance

3. (Clothing & Fashion) a variant of biggin¹

[from Louisiana French, from French béguin flirtation]

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Beguine [ˈbɛgiːn]

n

(Christian Churches, other) a member of a Christian sisterhood that was founded in Liège in the 12th century, and, though not taking religious vows, followed an austere life

[from Old French, perhaps after Lambert le Bègue (the Stammerer), 12th-century priest of Liège, who founded the sisterhood]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Beguine - (Roman Catholic Church) a member of a lay sisterhood (one of several founded in the Netherlands in the 12th and 13th centuries); though not taking religious vows the sisters followed an austere life sisterhood - a religious society of women who live together as sisters (especially an order of nuns) Church of Rome, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Church, Western Church, Roman Catholic - the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy sister - a female person who is a fellow member of a sorority or labor union or other group; "none of her sisters would betray her"
	2.	beguine - music written in the bolero rhythm of the beguine dance dance music - music to dance to
	3.	beguine - a ballroom dance that originated in the French West Indies; similar to the rumba ballroom dance, ballroom dancing - any of a variety of social dances performed by couples in a ballroom