Stanzas

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Stanza \Stan"za\ (st[a^]n"z[.a]), n.; pl. {Stanzas} (-z[.a]z).
     [It. stanza a room, habitation, a stanza, i. e., a stop, fr.
     L. stans, p. pr. of stare to stand. See {Stand}, and cf.
     {Estancia}, {Stance}, {Stanchion}.]
     1. A number of lines or verses forming a division of a song
        or poem, and agreeing in meter, rhyme, number of lines,


        etc., with other divisions; a part of a poem, ordinarily
        containing every variation of measure in that poem; a
        combination or arrangement of lines usually recurring,
        whether like or unlike, in measure.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Horace confines himself strictly to one sort of
              verse, or stanza, in every ode.       --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Arch.) An apartment or division in a building; a room or
        chamber.
        [1913 Webster]