couplet
UK[ˈkʌplət]US[ˈkʌplət]
n
Two lines of poetry, one following the other, that are the same length and often rhyme.
Morpheme Breakdown
couple
et
couple
pair
et
diminutive suffix
Etymology
The word 'couplet' entered English in the late 16th century from French, where 'couplet' originally meant a pair or a couple. Its ultimate root is the Latin noun 'copula', meaning a bond, link, or tie, which itself derives from the verb 'co-' (together) and 'apere' (to fasten). The French diminutive suffix '-et' was added, subtly shifting the meaning from a general pair to a specific, concise pair of linked lines in verse. Thus, the term's logic flows from the ancient concept of a bond or link to the modern, specialized literary device of two metrically and often rhythmically connected lines.
Analysis
Structure: couple (pair) + et (diminutive suffix)
- couple: From Old French 'cople', from Latin 'copula' (a bond, link). Functions as the core root meaning "a pair or bond".
- et: A diminutive suffix of French origin, indicating a small or specific type of the root.
Examples
The poem concludes with a memorable rhyming couplet.
He struggled to compose the perfect heroic couplet for the epigram.
Many of Shakespeare's sonnets end with a powerful summarizing couplet.