sonnet
UK[ˈsɒnɪt]US[ˈsɑːnɪt]
n
a poem that has 14 lines, each containing 10 syllables, and a fixed pattern of rhyme.
Morpheme Breakdown
sonn
et
sonn
sound
et
diminutive suffix
Etymology
the word 'sonnet' traces its lineage to the italian 'sonetto', meaning 'a little sound or song'. this is a diminutive form derived from the latin 'sonus', which means 'sound'. the term entered english in the 16th century via french, specifically referring to the short, lyrical poem form popularized by italian poets like petrarch. the core semantic link from 'sound' to a structured poem highlights the form's origins in musical and vocal performance, evolving to denote a precise 14-line poetic structure with a fixed rhyme scheme.
Analysis
Structure: sonn (sound) + et (diminutive suffix)
sonn from old french 'sonet', from italian 'sonetto', ultimately from latin 'sonus' (sound). et is a diminutive suffix from old french '-et', from latin '-ittus'.
Examples
shakespeare's sonnet 18 begins with the famous line, "shall i compare thee to a summer's day?"
she decided to express her feelings by writing a love sonnet.
the poet mastered the strict form of the petrarchan sonnet.