Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

cento

noun

ˈsɛn.toʊ

Definition

A cento is a literary work made up of verses or passages taken from other authors, arranged in a new form.

Examples

The poem he submitted was a cento crafted from various lines of Shakespeare.
In her latest novel, she included a cento that showcased her admiration for classic literature.

Meaning

The term ‘cento’ is derived from the Latin word for ‘patchwork’, reflecting how the work is constructed from existing texts. It involves recontextualizing and reassembling lines and ideas to create a new artistic statement.