Definition

A type of literary work that is created by combining lines or passages from different authors' works into a new piece.

Example

The poet created a cento by weaving together lines from various classic poems.

Conversation

I just finished reading a really interesting cento in my literature class.

Oh, what was it about?

It was made up of lines from different poets, and it flowed so well together.

That sounds awesome! I love how creative centos can be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cento → The word originates from Latin 'cento' (meaning patchwork or a work made up of verses from other authors). It refers to a literary work that is composed of lines or passages taken from other works, creating a new piece from existing materials.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'patchwork' of different pieces coming together to form a new creation — that's what a cento is, a collection of lines from various sources.

Visually Confused Words