\Sir`vente"\, n. [F. sirvente, fr. Pr. sirventes,
sirventesc, originally, the poem of, or concerning, a
sirvent, fr. sirvent, properly, serving, n., one who serves
(e. g., as a soldier), fr. servir to serve, L. servire.]
A peculiar species of poetry, for the most part devoted to
moral and religious topics, and commonly satirical, -- often
used by the troubadours of the Middle Ages.