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Glite Dictionary
tenzone

tenzone

1 9.9
An exchange of poems in which poets reply to each other
  • noun
  • Archaic
: tenzone
  • The poets engaged in a lively tenzone last night.

Examples

  • The poets engaged in a spirited tenzone through their published verses.

  • Their friendship survived many a tenzone over philosophical ideas.

  • A heated tenzone erupted among the panelists during the live broadcast.

  • Did you see the tenzone at the festival?

  • The poets engaged in a spirited tenzone through their published verses.

  • A heated tenzone erupted among the panelists during the live broadcast.

  • Their friendship survived many a tenzone over philosophical ideas.

Synonyms

flyting
vstenzone
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An exchange of clever insults, often in poems

is a poetic verse exchange focused on reply rather than insult
rhyme off
vstenzone
  • Informal
9.3

A contest where people make rhymes aloud

is a structured poetic exchange of responsive verses rather than casual oral play

Surface Forms

tenzone singular
tenzones plural

Etymology

Tenzone comes from an old Italian and southern French word for a poetic battle and is related to the Latin root tendere 'to stretch' and the English word tension. Imagine two poets 'pulling' ideas against each other, which is why a tenzone is a contest of verses.