# l'envoy

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lenvoy
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a short final section of a poem or book. It is often used to send the work to a specific person or to summarize the main message.

For teachers: a short concluding stanza of a poem, such as a ballade, or a brief postscript at the end of a prose work. Often serves as a dedication or a summary of the preceding text.

## Examples

- The poet added a short l'envoy to dedicate the book to his wife.
- In the final l'envoy, the author addresses the reader directly to explain the moral of the story.
- The ballade concludes with a four-line l'envoy that shifts the tone from descriptive to instructional, effectively sealing the poem's thematic argument before the final refrain.

## Usage notes

- Often spelled 'envoy' in modern English; the French-style 'l'envoy' is more common in older literary criticism.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.