arioso

noun

ari·​o·​so ˌär-ē-ˈō-(ˌ)sō How to pronounce arioso (audio)
-(ˌ)zō
plural ariosos also ariosi ˌär-ē-ˈō-(ˌ)sē How to pronounce arioso (audio)
-(ˌ)zē
: a musical passage or composition having a mixture of free recitative and metrical song

Examples of arioso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But Monteverdi shows uncanny skill at writing extended vocal passages that shift seamlessly between recitative, arioso and aria. Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2017 Fischer inhabited her role completely, and the composer wrote long, lyrical arioso for her. Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati.com, 19 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arioso.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from aria

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arioso was in 1820

Dictionary Entries Near arioso

Cite this Entry

“Arioso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arioso. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

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