ballad
UK[ˈbæləd]US[ˈbæləd]
n
a slow, romantic, or sentimental song
n
a narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung, telling a story in simple verse
Etymology
the word 'ballad' entered english in the late 15th century from the old french 'ballade', meaning a dancing song. the french term itself derived from the provençal 'balada', a song for dancing, which is rooted in the late latin verb 'ballare', meaning 'to dance'. this latin verb is likely of greek origin, from 'ballizein', also meaning 'to dance'. thus, the word's journey from a term for a dance song to its modern meaning of a narrative or sentimental song reflects the evolution of the art form itself, where the musical accompaniment for dance gradually became a vehicle for storytelling and emotional expression.
Analysis
the word 'ballad' is a simplex loanword from french. it does not contain separable morphemes in modern english spelling that can be meaningfully analyzed.
Examples
the folk singer performed a haunting ballad about lost love.
the ancient ballad told the story of a knight's quest.
her latest single is a powerful ballad that has topped the charts.