musicality
|mu-si-cal-i-ty|
/ˌmjuːzɪˈkælɪti/
quality or sense of being musical
Etymology
'musicality' originates from the adjective 'musical' plus the suffix '-ity'. 'Musical' comes from Latin 'musicalis' (from Latin 'musica'), which in turn comes from Greek 'mousikē' where 'mousa' meant 'Muse' (art or skill of the Muses). The suffix '-ity' comes from Latin '-itas' meaning 'state or quality'.
'musicality' was formed in Modern English by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ity' to 'musical'. The root 'music' changed from Greek 'mousikē' to Latin 'musica', then to Old French/Medieval Latin forms and Middle English 'musike', evolving into modern English 'music' and related derivatives like 'musical' and finally 'musicality'.
Initially related to 'music' (the art or practice associated with the Muses), the term evolved to refer specifically to the 'quality or state' of being musical — especially a person's sensitivity, skill, or expressive quality in music.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or ability of being musical; sensitivity, perception, and expressive skill in music (sense of rhythm, pitch, phrasing, and expression).
Her musicality was obvious in the way she shaped each phrase.
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Noun 2
the degree to which something (a performance, composition, speech, or movement) possesses musical qualities or resembles music in structure, flow, or expressiveness.
Critics praised the musicality of the choreography, noting how movement and sound complemented each other.
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Last updated: 2025/11/08 04:29