sextain: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ObscureSpecialised / Literary / Technical (Poetry)
Quick answer
What does “sextain” mean?
A six-line stanza or poem.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A six-line stanza or poem.
In poetry, specifically a stanza of six lines, often with a specific rhyme scheme (e.g., ababcc or aabccb). Historically, it can also refer to a six-line poem or a specific form like a sestina (though a strict sestina is a more complex, unrhymed form).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. It is a technical literary term used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
None beyond its technical literary context.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “sextain” in a Sentence
The poem consists of a sextain.He wrote a sextain in iambic pentameter.The final sextain resolves the thematic tension.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sextain” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sextain form is less common than the quatrain.
American English
- He studied the poem's sextain structure.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used in literary studies, poetry analysis, and prosody.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
A technical term in poetry and versification.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sextain”
- Misspelling as 'sextant'.
- Confusing it with the more common 'sestet'.
- Using it to refer generally to any short poem instead of specifically a six-line unit.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A sextain is a general term for any six-line stanza. A sestina is a highly structured 39-line poem with a complex pattern of repeating end-words.
Common rhyme schemes include ababcc (as in Shakespearean sonnet endings) or aabccb.
No. It is a specialist literary term known mainly to students and scholars of poetry.
Yes, it can refer to a complete six-line poem or a six-line stanza within a longer work.
A six-line stanza or poem.
Sextain is usually specialised / literary / technical (poetry) in register.
Sextain: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsek.steɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsek.steɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SEX' for six (as in sextant or sextet) + 'STAIN' on the page. A SEXTAIN is a six-line STANza that might leave a mark with its meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
A sextain is a CONTAINER for a complete poetic thought or turn.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'sextain' primarily used?