poet laureate

3 definitions found

poet laureate - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Poet \Po"et\, n. [F. po["e]te, L. po["e]ta, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to
     make. Cf. Poem.]
     One skilled in making poetry; one who has a particular genius
     for metrical composition; the author of a poem; an
     imaginative thinker or writer.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
           Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven.
                                                    --Shak.
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           A poet is a maker, as the word signifies. --Dryden.
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     Poet laureate. See under Laureate.
        [1913 Webster]

  Laureate \Lau"re*ate\, a. [L. laureatus, fr. laurea laurel tree,
     fr. laureus of laurel, fr. laurus laurel: cf. F. laur['e]at.
     Cf. Laurel.]
     Crowned, or decked, with laurel. --Chaucer.
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           To strew the laureate hearse where Lycid lies.
                                                    --Milton.
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           Soft on her lap her laureate son reclines. --Pope.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Poet laureate.
     (b) One who received an honorable degree in grammar,
         including poetry and rhetoric, at the English
         universities; -- so called as being presented with a
         wreath of laurel. [Obs.]
     (b) Formerly, an officer of the king's household, whose
         business was to compose an ode annually for the king's
         birthday, and other suitable occasions; now, a poet
         officially distinguished by such honorary title, the
         office being a sinecure. It is said this title was first
         given in the time of Edward IV. [Eng.]
     (c) A poet who has been publicly recognized as the most
         pre-eminent poet of a country or region; as, the poet
         laureate of the United States.
         [1913 Webster +PJC]

poet laureate - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  poet laureate
      n 1: a poet who is unofficially regarded as holding an honorary
           position in a particular group or region; "she is the poet
           laureate of all lyricists"; "he is the poet laureate of
           Arkansas"
      2: the poet officially appointed to the royal household in Great
         Britain; "the poet laureate is expected to provide poems for
         great national occasions"