lilt

English

Etymology

From Middle English lilten, lulten.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɪlt/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪlt

Verb

lilt (third-person singular simple present lilts, present participle lilting, simple past and past participle lilted)

1. To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
   • a. 1851, William Wordsworth, “The Redbreast”, in Henry [Hope] Reed, editor, The Complete Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Philadelphia, Pa.: Hayes & Zell, […], published 1860, →OCLC:

     Whether the bird flit here or there,
     O'er table lilt , or perch on chair

2. To sing cheerfully, especially in Gaelic.
3. To utter with spirit, animation, or gaiety; to sing with spirit and liveliness.
   • 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “(please specify the page number, or |part=Prologue, I to VII, or conclusion)”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:

     A classic lecture, rich in sentiment, / With scraps of thunderous epic lilted out / By violet-hooded doctors.

Translations

to sing cheerfully

• German: trällern (de)

Noun

lilt (plural lilts)

1. Animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness.
2. A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune.
3. A cheerful or melodious accent when speaking.
   • July 18 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club, The Dark Knight Rises (review)

     Though Bane’s sing-song voice gives his pronouncements a funny lilt, he doesn’t have any of the Joker’s deranged wit, and Nolan isn’t interested in undercutting his seriousness for the sake of a breezier entertainment.

Translations

melodious accent when speaking

• Czech: rytmičnost f, melodičnost f (řeči)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: tonefall (no) n

See also

• brogue
• drawl
• lisp
• twang

References

“lilt”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Till, till, 'till, lit'l, it'll