n. [ F. sérénade, It. serenata, probably fr. L. serenus serene (cf. Serene), misunderstood as a derivative fr. L. serus late. Cf. Soirée. ] (Mus.) (a) Music sung or performed in the open air at nights; -- usually applied to musical entertainments given in the open air at night, especially by gentlemen, in a spirit of gallantry, under the windows of ladies. (b) A piece of music suitable to be performed at such times. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Serenaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Serenading. ] To entertain with a serenade. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To perform a serenade. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who serenades. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ It. serenata. See Serenade. ] (Mus.) A piece of vocal music, especially one on an amoreus subject; a serenade. [ 1913 Webster ]

Or serenate, which the starved lover sings
To his pround fair. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name serenata was given by Italian composers in the time of Handel, and by Handel himself, to a cantata of a pastoreal of dramatic character, to a secular ode, etc.; also by Mozart and others to an orchectral composition, in several movements, midway between the suite of an earlier period and the modern symphony. Grove. [ 1913 Webster ]