Eclogue
/ˈɛk.lɒɡ/noun
A short pastoral poem, especially one depicting rural life or conversations between shepherds.
Did you know?Although eclogue originally meant a selected passage or excerpt, Latin writers—especially Virgil—helped turn it into the name for a pastoral poem.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leg-
“To gather, collect, or pick out; a root associated with choosing and collecting.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐκλέγειν (eklegein)
“To pick out, select, or choose; formed from ek-, “out,” and legein, “to gather or choose.””
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐκλογή (eklogē)
“A selection, chosen passage, or excerpt.”
1st Century BCE
Latin
ecloga
“A selected literary passage; later, a short pastoral poem.”
4th Century
Late Latin
ecloga
“A pastoral poem, especially in the tradition associated with Virgil’s Eclogues.”
14th Century
English
eclogue
“A short pastoral poem depicting rural or shepherd life.”