pas de deux , delineating, coda

On the Cover of Sunday’s Book Review

'The Song Is You'

By ARTHUR PHILLIPS Reviewed by KATE CHRISTENSEN

Arthur Phillips’s novel turns the notion of the artistic muse on its head and gives it a spin, delineating a pas de deux between a young singer-songwriter and the older man who actively, obsessively inspires her.

de·lin·e·ate (dĭ-lĭn'ē-āt') tr.v., -at·ed, -at·ing, -ates.

1. To draw or trace the outline of; sketch out.
2. To represent pictorially; depict.
3. To depict in words or gestures; describe. See synonyms at represent.

[Latin dēlīneāre, dēlīneāt- : dē-, de- + līnea, line, thread; see line¹.]

delineation de·lin'e·a'tion n. delineative de·lin'e·a'tive adj. delineator de·lin'e·a'tor n. pas de deux (dœ) n., pl. pas de deux.

1. A dance for two, especially a dance in ballet consisting of an entrée and adagio, a variation for each dancer, and a coda.
2. A close relationship between two people or things, as during an activity.

[French : pas, step + de, of, for + deux, two.]