guillaume de machaut: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic / Artistic / Historical / Formal
Quick answer
What does “guillaume de machaut” mean?
The name of a specific, highly influential medieval French composer and poet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The name of a specific, highly influential medieval French composer and poet.
A metonymic reference to the specific body of work (music, poetry, manuscripts) created by this individual, or to the musical style of the French Ars Nova in the 14th century.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or reference; pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). The spelling, being of French origin, is consistent.
Connotations
Both varieties carry connotations of high medieval culture, early classical music history, and intellectual sophistication. No additional regional connotations.
Frequency
Used almost exclusively in musicology, medieval history, and literature contexts in both regions. Frequency is equally low.
Grammar
How to Use “guillaume de machaut” in a Sentence
Guillaume de Machaut (Subject) + verb (e.g., composed, wrote)Scholars + verb (e.g., study, analyse) + Guillaume de Machaut (Object)His work + verb (e.g., represents, exemplifies) + genre/styleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guillaume de machaut” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Machautian style of polyphony
- A work in the Machautian tradition
American English
- Machautian motets
- A Machautian approach to form
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Central usage. E.g., 'The isorhythmic motets of Guillaume de Machaut are foundational to the study of medieval music.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only appear in specific conversations about classical music or history.
Technical
Used in musicology and historical linguistics (studying Middle French).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “guillaume de machaut”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “guillaume de machaut”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guillaume de machaut”
- Misspelling as 'Guillame', 'Machault', or 'de Machaut'.
- Mispronouncing 'Guillaume' with a hard 'G' (/g/) instead of the soft /ɡiː/.
- Using it as a plural or uncountable noun when referring to the person ('Machauts were important' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In the original French, the final 't' in 'Machaut' is silent. In common English pronunciation, especially in American English, the 't' is often softly pronounced in the anglicised version /mæˈʃoʊ/.
He is most famous for being the first composer to write a complete, integrated setting of the Ordinary of the Mass (the Messe de Nostre Dame) and for his prolific and influential secular songs and poetry.
Yes, though it's a specialist usage. The derivative 'Machautian' (or less commonly, 'Machaldian') is used in academic writing to describe musical or poetic characteristics typical of his style.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised proper noun. It is well-known within the fields of classical music, medieval studies, and poetry, but not in general everyday vocabulary.
The name of a specific, highly influential medieval French composer and poet.
Guillaume de machaut is usually academic / artistic / historical / formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There's no idiom containing this specific name.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GUI (computer interface) playing an ancient LYRE (sounds like 'liam'), but the MACHine is AUTomatic – GUI-LYRE-AUT on a MACH-AUT. He automated complex musical forms!
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable as a proper noun. Could be conceptualised metonymically as 'A PERSON IS THEIR WORK' (e.g., 'We listened to some beautiful Machaut tonight').
Practice
Quiz
In which period is Guillaume de Machaut primarily classified?