cittern: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Technical (Musicology)
Quick answer
What does “cittern” mean?
A stringed musical instrument, related to the guitar, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, typically pear-shaped with a flat back and wire strings played by plucking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A stringed musical instrument, related to the guitar, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, typically pear-shaped with a flat back and wire strings played by plucking.
A historical instrument often used in Renaissance and Baroque music, and sometimes revived in modern early music performances. It can also refer symbolically to antiquated or rustic musical traditions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes Renaissance fairs, early music ensembles, and historical reenactment equally in both cultures.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, confined to historical/musicological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cittern” in a Sentence
[Subject] plays the cittern.The [adjective] cittern was used for [purpose].A cittern [verb: e.g., has, features] [object: e.g., strings, frets].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cittern” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The musician will cittern a tune from the Tudor period. (Note: 'cittern' is not standardly used as a verb; this is a forced, non-standard example for the structure.)
American English
- He attempted to cittern the melody, though the instrument was unfamiliar. (Note: 'cittern' is not standardly used as a verb; this is a forced, non-standard example for the structure.)
adverb
British English
- (No established adverbial form exists.)
American English
- (No established adverbial form exists.)
adjective
British English
- The cittern music filled the great hall. (Note: 'cittern' as a noun adjunct, not a true adjective.)
American English
- She studied cittern construction for her thesis. (Note: 'cittern' as a noun adjunct, not a true adjective.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in music history, Renaissance studies, and organology (the study of musical instruments).
Everyday
Extremely rare; might appear in discussions of historical periods or niche hobbies.
Technical
Specific term in early music performance practice and instrument making.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cittern”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cittern”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cittern”
- Misspelling as 'citter', 'citternn', or 'syttern'.
- Confusing it with a modern mandolin or bouzouki.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical predecessor and cousin of the modern guitar. It typically has a different shape (often pear-shaped), a flat back, and is strung with wire strings, giving it a brighter, more metallic sound.
Its peak popularity was during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, roughly from the 16th to the mid-18th century.
Yes, primarily in the context of historically informed performances of early music, at Renaissance fairs, and by specialist musicians dedicated to period instruments.
The number varied historically, but common Renaissance citterns often had four or five courses (pairs) of strings. Later models could have more.
A stringed musical instrument, related to the guitar, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, typically pear-shaped with a flat back and wire strings played by plucking.
Cittern is usually formal, historical, technical (musicology) in register.
Cittern: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪtən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪtərn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none – term is too technical for idiomatic use)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SITTER at a Renaissance court, playing a pear-shaped instrument: the CITTERN sitter.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not typically a source for metaphor due to its specificity.
Practice
Quiz
What is a cittern most closely related to?