frauendienst etymology

Etymology:

  • German: Frauendienst, from
    • Frau "lady, mistress, woman"
    • Dienst "service, duty"

Meaning:

Frauendienst refers to the medieval literary and cultural tradition in which poets and knights celebrated and idealized women. It emerged in the late 12th century in France and spread throughout Western Europe.

Origin:

The origins of Frauendienst can be traced to:

  • Chivalry: The code of conduct for knights, which emphasized protecting women and upholding their honor.
  • Courtly love: A highly stylized form of love between a man and a woman, often from different social classes.
  • Religious devotion: The worship of the Virgin Mary, who was seen as the epitome of feminine purity and virtue.

Characteristics:

Frauendienst literature and art were characterized by:

  • Idealized depictions of women as beautiful, virtuous, and worthy of devotion.
  • Knights performing extraordinary feats to win the favor of their ladies.
  • Elegiac and bittersweet expressions of longing and despair.

Influence:

Frauendienst had a profound influence on European literature and culture:

  • Shaped the conventions of romantic love and chivalry.
  • Inspired countless works of poetry, prose, and art.
  • Contributed to the development of the concept of courtly society.
  • Laid the foundation for later feminist and romantic movements.

frauendienst relate terms

  • frau

    Etymology The word frau comes from the Middle High German MGH word vrouwe c 12th

  • connotation

    Etymology From Late Latin connotatio from Latin connotare meaning to note together

  • intervention

    Etymology Latin intervenire to come between Inter between venire to come

  • necromancy

    Etymology The term necromancy comes from the Greek words nekros νεκρός mean

  • church

    Etymology The English word church originates from the Old English word cirice which

  • imminent

    Etymology The word imminent derives from the Latin word imminēre which means to ov

  • ether

    Etymology The word ether comes from the Ancient Greek word aither αἰθήρ whi

  • pregnant

    Etymology The word pregnant originates from the Latin word praegnans which means b

  • Whig

    Etymology The term Whig is derived from the Scottish word whiggamore which original

  • dismal

    Etymology The word dismal originates from the Old French word dismaler meaning to s

  • power

    Etymology Old French pouer Latin potere to be able Proto Indo European root pot