diwan
9.9
A book of poems by one author, often in Persian or Arabic
- noun
- /dɪˈwɑn/
- Literature
:
diwan
- After years of work, she finally published a diwan of her poetry, showcasing her unique voice.
Examples
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The poet's latest diwan features themes of love and nature.
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Scholars gathered to discuss the influence of the diwan on modern Persian literature.
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He lived in Shaikh Faisal's diwan (men's guest room) for about six months.
Academic text (1990) -
The quote, from the writings of the ninth-century poet-philosopher Diwan Abu Nawas, reads: PREFORMATTED TABLE
Academic text (1996)
Synonyms
1
9.9
A book of poems by one writer, often in Persian or Arabic
means the same but is an alternate spelling of the term
How Large
Surface Forms
Etymology
Diwan comes from Persian and Arabic dīvān, which meant a 'book' or 'collection' of writings, so it naturally became the name for a poet's collected works. So a diwan is a collection of poems, and it is the same root behind the English word divan ('sofa'), because such books were often read in the rooms where people sat on a divan.