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Glite Dictionary
Audenesque

Audenesque

1 9.9
Having clear rhyme, clever humor, and serious ideas like W. H. Auden's poems
  • adjective
  • /ˌɔːdənˈɛsk/
  • Literature
: audenesco
  • The poem’s Audenesque qualities include precise rhyme and intellectual themes.

Examples

  • Her new collection has a distinctly Audenesque wit and rhythm.

  • Critics described his latest work as refreshingly Audenesque in both tone and structure.

  • The poem is Audenesque.

  • Her style is Audenesque!

  • Critics described his latest work as refreshingly Audenesque in both tone and structure.

  • Her new collection has a distinctly Audenesque wit and rhythm.

  • The poem’s Audenesque qualities include precise rhyme and intellectual themes.

Surface Forms

Audenesque positive

Morphology

Audenesque = Auden (transparent) = Auden + esque

Formed from the proper name 'Auden' plus the productive adjectival suffix '-esque' meaning 'in the style of', so the meaning is directly predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Audenesque comes from the name of the poet W. H. Auden plus the ending -esque, which means 'in the style of', as in picturesque. So something called Audenesque looks or sounds like Auden's poems, sharing his tone and ideas.