appassionata
|ap-pas-sio-na-ta|
🇺🇸
/ˌæpəˈʃɑːnətə/
🇬🇧
/ˌæpəˈʃænətə/
(appassionato)
played with passion
Etymology
'appassionata' originates from Italian, specifically the past participle feminine form of 'appassionare', where 'passione' meant 'passion' or 'suffering' (from Latin 'passio').
'appassionata' developed in Italian as the feminine past participle of 'appassionare' ('to fill with passion'). The term was adopted into musical usage across European languages in the 18th–19th centuries and entered English musical vocabulary as a direction or title (for example, Beethoven's nickname for his Sonata Op.57).
Initially it meant 'having been filled with passion' (a literal past-participle sense); over time it became specialized as a musical direction meaning 'in a passionate manner' and as a conventional title for passionately conceived works.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a musical work or a title/name of a piece, especially used as the nickname of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 ('the Appassionata').
She prepared the Appassionata for her final recital.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
marked to be played passionately; with intense feeling (from Italian appassionato/appassionata).
The movement is marked appassionata, so the pianist played with fiery intensity.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/23 16:52