cynghanedd

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Welsh cynghanedd (“harmony”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kəŋˈhænɛð/

Noun

cynghanedd (usually uncountable, plural cynganeddion)

1. (prosody) The complex system of internal assonance, alliteration and rhyme in Welsh strict-meter poetry.
   • 1948 (revised 1952), Robert Graves, The White Goddess, Faber & Faber 1999, p. 14:

     Only certain epithets and metaphors were authorized; themes were similarly restricted, metres fixed, and Cynghanedd, the repetitive use of consonantal sequences with variation of vowels, became a burdensome obsession.

   • 1998, editors (names unknown), "cynghanedd" in Britannica Online Encyclopedia

     There are four fundamental types of cynghanedd, but within these there are a number of refinements and variations. When skillfully used, cynghanedd is capable of conveying an almost unlimited variety of subtle effects.

Welsh

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /kəŋˈhanɛð/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /kəŋˈhaːnɛð/, /kəŋˈhanɛð/

Noun

cynghanedd f (plural cynganeddion)

1. (music) harmony

   Synonym: harmoni

2. (prosody) cynghanedd
3. harmony, concord

   Synonym: cytgord

Derived terms

• cynganeddol (“in cynghanedd”)
• cynganeddu (“to compose cynghanedd”)
• cynganeddwr (“composer of cynghanedd”)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
cynghanedd	gynghanedd	nghynghanedd	chynghanedd
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “cynghanedd”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies