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Glite Dictionary
seraphine

seraphine

9.9
A small 19th-century keyboard instrument that uses an air pump to make sound
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛrəˌfin/
  • Archaic
translation icon : serafina
  • She played a gentle melody on the old seraphine in the parlor.

Examples

  • During the recital, the musician demonstrated the unique sound of the seraphine.

  • The antique seraphine in the corner of the room fascinated the music historian.

  • The seraphine produces a unique sound.

  • She plays the seraphine beautifully.

  • The antique seraphine in the corner of the room fascinated the music historian.

  • During the recital, the musician demonstrated the unique sound of the seraphine.

  • She played a gentle melody on the old seraphine in the parlor.

Synonyms

American organ
vsseraphine
  • US
9.9

A keyboard instrument that makes sound when air is pulled through thin metal strips, making a warm vibrating sound

is a smaller 19th-century instrument specific to an earlier period
melodion
vsseraphine
9.9

A small keyboard instrument you play by blowing air through it

uses bellows rather than breath to push air through reeds

Surface Forms

seraphine singular
seraphines plural

Morphology

seraphine = seraph (semi-transparent) = seraph + ine

Formed from 'seraph' + '-ine' suggesting an 'angelic' quality, but used as the name of a specific 19th-century instrument so the meaning is figurative and not a directly productive instrument-forming suffix for learners.

Etymology

Seraphine comes from seraph meaning 'an angel', because people thought its soft, reedy sound was 'angelic'. So a seraphine is a small 19th-century keyboard instrument known for its gentle, heavenly tone.