cantabile

adverb or adjective

can·​ta·​bi·​le kän-ˈtä-bi-ˌlā How to pronounce cantabile (audio) -lē How to pronounce cantabile (audio)
: in a singing manner
often used as a direction in music

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Late Latin cantabilis worthy to be sung, from Latin cantare

First Known Use

circa 1724, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cantabile was circa 1724

Dictionary Entries Near cantabile

Cite this Entry

“Cantabile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cantabile. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!