Definition of alternativo
: a musical middle section (such as a trio) that is followed by a repetition of the preceding section especially in an 18th-century dance movement (such as a minuet)
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Origin and Etymology of alternativo
Italian, alternative, from Medieval Latin alternativus
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: circa 1887
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearDefinition of alternativo
: alternately
—used as a direction in music to repeat a movement's first section (such as a minuet) following its second section (such as a trio)
First Known Use of alternativo
circa 1823
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