eclogue
UK[ˈeklɒɡ]US[ˈeklɔːɡ]
n
A short poem, especially a pastoral dialogue between shepherds.
Etymology
The word 'eclogue' entered English in the late Middle English period, borrowed from the Latin 'ecloga', which itself derives from the Greek 'eklogē', meaning 'selection' or 'choice piece'. The Greek term originates from the verb 'eklegein', meaning 'to pick out' (from 'ek-', 'out' + 'legein', 'to gather, pick'). This etymological path reflects the literary history of the form; the Roman poet Virgil titled his pastoral poems 'Eclogae', framing them as 'selections' from a larger body of work. Over time, the term's meaning narrowed specifically to denote a short pastoral poem, shedding its general sense of 'selection' while retaining the classical association with idealized rural life and dialogue.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Latin. It is not productively formed from separable English morphemes.
Examples
The poet's latest collection features a modern eclogue set in the Welsh countryside.
Virgil's Eclogues are foundational texts in the Western pastoral tradition.
She analyzed the use of allegory within the Renaissance eclogue.