Etymology Borrowed from French sérénade, from Italian serenata, from the past participle of serenare, from Latin serenare, from serenus (“calm”), of uncertain origin (see there).
1
A love song that is sung directly to one's love interest, especially one performed below the window of a loved one in the evening.
From me to thee glad serenades, / Dances for thee I propose saluting thee, adornments and feastings for thee, / And the sights of the open landscape and the high-spread sky are fitting, / And life and the fields, and the huge and thoughtful night.1865, Walt Whitman, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”, in Sequel to Drum-Taps: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d and other poems:
A lovestruck Romeo sings the streets a serenade / Laying everybody low with a love song that he made1980, Dire Straits, “Romeo and Juliet”, in Making Movies:
2
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music An instrumental composition in several movements.
“Eine kleine Nachtmusik” is a well-known serenade written by Mozart.
serenade
verb
Etymology Borrowed from French sérénade, from Italian serenata, from the past participle of serenare, from Latin serenare, from serenus (“calm”), of uncertain origin (see there).
1
To sing or play a serenade for (someone).
The Southampton striker, who also struck a post late on, was being serenaded by the Wembley crowd before the end and should probably brace himself for some Lambert-mania over the coming days but, amid the eulogies, it should not overlook the deficiencies that were evident in another stodgy England performance.2013 August 14, Daniel Taylor, The Guardian: