"beguines" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
The Beguines were a Christian lay religious order for women that emerged in the 12th and 13th centuries in the Low Countries (modern-day Belgium, Netherlands, and northern France). They were not nuns but lived in communal settings, known as beguinages, where they dedicated themselves to prayer, charity, and education while maintaining their independence and ability to leave the order if they chose. Beguines played an important role in providing social services and education during the Middle Ages without taking formal vows.
Beguines were a Christian movement of laywomen who lived in communal settings without taking formal vows, primarily in the Middle Ages. Here are five usage examples:
1. In the 13th century, Beguines formed a unique community of women who dedicated themselves to religious life while still engaging in the world, often providing education and healthcare services.
2. The beguinages, or complexes where Beguines resided, have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites, preserving their history and architectural heritage for future generations.
3. The term "beguine" has also been used metaphorically, as in Cole Porter's famous song "Begin the Beguine," which refers to starting something new or mysterious, akin to the enigmatic nature of Beguine communities.
4. Some modern feminist scholars have looked to the Beguines as an early example of women's autonomy and alternative lifestyles outside of traditional monastic or domestic roles.
5. The Beguines' influence can be seen in literature, with authors like Marguerite Porete and Hadewijch producing spiritual writings that continue to inspire readers today.
To beguile means to charm, deceive, or entice someone, often leading them to believe something false or to be misled. It can also imply captivating or enchanting someone through trickery or deception.
The word "beguilement" refers to the act of charming, deceiving, or captivating someone, often in a way that leads them to be misled or diverted from reality. It can also imply the state of being beguiled, which means to be enchanted or entranced by something or someone.
A "beguiler" is someone or something that deceives or entices others through charm, flattery, or cunning, often leading them astray or causing them to be misled.
"Beguilers" refers to people who deceive or entice others through charm, flattery, or cunning, often leading them astray or manipulating their emotions or beliefs. They have the ability to captivate and mislead someone, sometimes with harmful intentions or to gain an advantage.
The word "beguiles" means to charm, deceive, or entice someone in a captivating or misleading way. It often implies using wit, beauty, or cunning to divert someone's attention or to deceive them.
Beguiling means charming or captivating in a way that deceives or ensnares someone, often causing them to be misled or enchanted. It can describe something or someone that is alluring but potentially misleading or deceptive.
The word "beguilingly" is an adverb that means in a way that is charming, attractive, or captivating to the point of misleading or deceiving someone. It often describes something or someone that has a deceptive appeal or allure. For example, a statement or appearance might be beguilingly enticing but ultimately deceptive or false.
A beguinage is a community or settlement of beguines, which were Christian laywomen who lived in semi-monastic conditions without taking formal vows. Beguines were active primarily in the Middle Ages across Europe, particularly in the Low Countries. They lived in communal houses, called beguinages, where they devoted themselves to religious practices, education, and charitable works while also engaging in various trades and professions.