arioso
|a-ri-o-so|
🇺🇸
/ˌɑːriˈoʊsoʊ/
🇬🇧
/ˌɑːriˈəʊsəʊ/
aria-like; melodious
Etymology
'arioso' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'arioso', where the root 'aria' meant 'air' (i.e. a melody or song).
'arioso' came into English usage from Italian musical terminology (Italian 'arioso', from 'aria') during the development of operatic vocabulary in the 17th–18th centuries and was adopted unchanged into English musical discourse.
Initially, in Italian contexts it meant 'melodious' or 'airy' (related to 'aria'); over time in English it became specialized to denote a short aria-like vocal passage or a singing style between recitative and aria.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a short, aria-like vocal passage or a lyrical, melodic piece (often in opera or oratorio), and a style of singing between recitative and aria.
The soprano performed a tender arioso between the recitative and the full aria.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
resembling or characteristic of an arioso; melodious and songlike.
He rendered the line in an arioso style, bringing out its lyrical quality.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/14 11:02