Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Alternate singing and weeping. See etymology.
  • noun In architecture, a narrow vertical hole or slit in a wall, to let the overflow of a stream or any other water that may collect pass through.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb archaic To sing and cry at the same time.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • She assumed as her impresa the chantepleure, with the sorrowful motto: "Plus ne m'est rien: rien ne m'est plus."

    Illuminated Manuscripts John William Bradley 1873

Comments

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  • French, archaic english. To sing and cry at the same time.

    December 8, 2006

  • What a beautiful concept and word, and one that I'll find use for more often than I'd prefer.

    December 12, 2006

  • How lovely!

    February 20, 2007

  • Not a modern English word, I gather.

    February 20, 2007

  • I normally don't like French words, but I like this one.

    February 20, 2007

  • How very emo.

    August 7, 2008

  • Name of a French poem of the 13th c. addressed to those who sing (chanter) in this world and shall weep (pleurer) in the next: hence used of a mixture or alternation of joy and sorrow. (French; The word has several senses in mod.F., e.g. ‘weep-hole’, ‘flood-opening’ in a wall, etc., which have not entered into English.) - OED)

    August 28, 2008