Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun literary A dreamlike semi-conscious state, such as while falling asleep or waking up, between periods of sleep, or from exhaustion; generally with reference to an altered mental state where there is no distinction between the fantastic and the familiar. Most often used in reference to medieval poetry and literature.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French.

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Examples

  • …expressions of ontological and vocal crisis can be situated within a traditional medieaval poetic commonplace known as dorveille, a psychological term describing the peculiar psycho-physical and spiritual depression suffered by bardic narrators, who typically complain of bodily exhaustion, restlessness, social withdrawal, or hypnotic suspension, an ontological dimunition linked with the sin of acedia — a psychic deterioration or apathy which fears its own vocal erasure into silence.

    dorveille | Goblin Mercantile Exchange 2005

  • Sun, December 11 2005 » Fiction, Poetry, Religion/Logos » No Comments dorveille

    2005 December | Goblin Mercantile Exchange 2005

  • Sun, December 11 2005 » Fiction » 1 Comment dorveille II

    2005 December | Goblin Mercantile Exchange 2005

Comments

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  • Cool word, think I will be using this one.

    September 12, 2024

  • Indeed.

    September 12, 2024