cinquain

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/sɪŋ.keɪn//sæŋ.keɪn/

noun

A five-line poetic form which consists of 2, 4, 6, 8 then 2 syllables.

OriginFrench cinquain →
UncommonScrabble 19
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Meanings

nouncinquain (plural cinquains)

plural cinquains

  1. A five-line poetic form which consists of 2, 4, 6, 8 then 2 syllables.
  2. educationA five-line poetic form set as a writing exercise for children, consisting of one noun, two adjectives, three actions, four feeling words, and the initial noun again.

Origin

  1. Frenchcinquain
  2. Frenchcinquain
  3. Englishcinquain

Borrowed from French cinquain.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cinquain. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cinquain

MLA

“cinquain.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cinquain. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cinquain,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cinquain.

Source: cinquain on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.