1. aubade A dawn song expressing the regret of parting lovers at daybreak. The earliest European examples date from the end of the 12th century. The Provençal, Spanish, and German equivalents are alba, albada, and Tagelied. Some scholars believe the aubade, which has no fixed metrical form, grew out of the cry of the medieval watchman, … Continue reading 10 Essential Terms for Poets (and Everyone Else)