Obs. [Fr.; f. chanter to sing + pleurer to weep. The word has several senses in mod.F., e.g., ‘weep-hole,’ ‘flood-opening’ in a wall, etc., which have not entered into English.]
1. Name of a French poem of the 13th c. addressed to those who sing (chanter) in this world and shall weep (pleurer) in the next (Godef.): hence used of a mixture or alternation of joy and sorrow.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 320. I fare as doþe þe songe of Chaunte pleure For nowe I pleyne and now I playe.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xi. Conformyng them to the chante plure Now to synge and sodaynely to wepe. Ibid. (c. 1430), Bochas, I. viii. (1544), 11 a. Like unto the chauntepleure: Ginning with ioy, ending in wretchednesse.
2. (See quot.)
1714. Fr. Bk. of Rates, 38. Chante Pleures, or Woodden Gods, 02 00 per 100 Weight.
