CHANTEFABLE

a medieval tale of adventure told in alternating sections of sung verse and recited prose. The word itself was usedand perhaps coinedby the anonymous author of the 13th-century French work Aucassin et Nicolette in its concluding lines: No cantefable prent fin (Our chantefable is drawing to a close). The work is the sole surviving example of the genre. The word is from the Old French (Picard dialect) cantefable, literally, (it) sings (and it) narrates.