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A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune. The housewife went about her work, or spun at her wheel, with a lilt upon her lips. J. C. Shairp.

ken to. Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain, If with too credent ear you list his songs. Shak.

often with of and an object. Love, and health to all. Shak. Smit with the love of sacred song. Milton. The love of science faintly warmed his breast. Fenton.

A song to quiet babes or lull them to sleep; that which quiets. Shak.

The words of a song.

Fitted to be sung to the lyre; hence, also, appropriate for song; -- said especially of poetry which expresses the individual emotions of the poet. "Sweet lyric song." Milton.

An unaccompanied polyphonic song, in four, five, or more parts, set to secular words, but full of counterpoint and imitation, and adhering to the old church modes. Unlike the freer glee, it is best sung with several voices on a part. See Glee.

The song of the Virgin Mary, Luke i. 46; -- so called because it commences with this word in the Vulgate.

a part; to impair; to disfigure; to deface. I pray you mar no more trees with wiring love songs in their barks. Shak. But mirth is marred, and the good cheer is lost. Dryden. Ire, envy, and despair Which marred all his borrowed visage. Milton.

Morning worship or service; morning prayers or songs. The winged choristers began To chirp their matins. Cleveland.

d by duel." Bacon. Son of God, Savior of men ! Thy name Shall be the copious matter of my song. Milton. Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge. Ex. xviii. 22.

The European throstle or song thrush (Turdus musicus).

Of or pertaining to song; lyric; tuneful.

A piece of melody; a song or tune, -- as opposed to recitative or musical declamation.

A collective body of minstrels, or musicians; also, a collective body of minstrels' songs. Chaucer. "The minstrelsy of heaven." Milton.

ecies of poem of a mournful character, in which a single mourner expresses lamentation; a song for one voice.

To utter in a mournful manner or voice. The lovelorn nightingale Nightly to thee her sad song mourneth well. Milton.

One of the nine goddesses who presided over song and the different kinds of poetry, and also the arts and sciences; -- often used in the plural. Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring: What Muse for Granville can refuse to sing Pope.

An extemporaneous funeral song, composed and sung by a woman on the death of a friend. [Modern Greece]

Attached to one's own country or nation. National anthem, a popular song or hymn which has become by general acceptance the recognized musical expression of the patriotic sentiment of a nation; as, "God save the King" is called the national anthem of England. -- National bank, the official common name of a class of ba…