passepied: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal / Technical (Musicology, Historical Dance)
Quick answer
What does “passepied” mean?
A fast, lively French Baroque dance in triple time, similar to a quick minuet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fast, lively French Baroque dance in triple time, similar to a quick minuet.
The music composed for such a dance, often appearing as a movement in instrumental suites of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes historical musicology, early music performance, and academic study of dance forms.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, appearing almost solely in specialised texts.
Grammar
How to Use “passepied” in a Sentence
The passepied is played...The suite contains a passepied.They danced a passepied.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “passepied” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The passepied rhythm is distinctive.
- She specialises in passepied forms.
American English
- The passepied tempo is quite brisk.
- He wrote a passepied movement for the suite.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, historical performance practice, and cultural history contexts.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in Baroque music analysis and early dance reconstruction.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “passepied”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “passepied”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “passepied”
- Mispronouncing as 'pass-pee-ed'.
- Using it to refer to any fast dance.
- Spelling as 'passe pied' or 'passe-pied'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialised term used almost exclusively in the context of Baroque music and historical dance.
Both are Baroque dances in triple time, but a passepied is generally faster and lighter than the more stately minuet.
No, in modern English usage it is exclusively a noun referring to the dance or its music. Historical French usage might differ.
In British English, it's commonly /ˈpæspeɪ/. In American English, a closer French approximation /ˌpɑːsˈpjeɪ/ is often used in academic/musical circles.
A fast, lively French Baroque dance in triple time, similar to a quick minuet.
Passepied is usually formal / technical (musicology, historical dance) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PASSE the PIE quickly while DANCING – a 'passepied' is a fast, light-footed dance.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION (the dance represents a specific historical period in motion).
Practice
Quiz
In which historical period is the passepied primarily significant?