ossia

conjunction

os·​sia
ōˈsēə
: or else
used as a direction in music to indicate an alternative and usually simpler form of a passage

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from o sia or let it be, from o or (from Latin aut) + sia let it be, be it, 3d person singular present subjunctive of essere to be, from Latin esse

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Dictionary Entries Near ossia

Cite this Entry

“Ossia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ossia. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

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