meistergesang

noun

mei·​ster·​ge·​sang

ˈmīstə(r)gəˌzäŋ

plural meistergesänge

-ˌzeŋə

often capitalized

1

: one of the songs of the meistersinger consisting of strophic mechanical verse usually didactic or religious in nature and composed according to strict rules to fit a few traditional monophonic melodies

2

: the songs of the meistersinger as a literary genre

Word History

Etymology

German, from Middle High German meistersanc, meistergesanc, from meister master + sanc song, singing (from Old High German sang) or gesanc song, singing, from ge-, collective prefix (from Old High German gi-) + sanc

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