Music. Of a piece or style of music: performed with emotion or tenderness, usually at a fairly slow tempo; affecting, moving, tender; (as an…

Of music: To be sung or played in a sustained manner. (Cf. quot. 1786.)

Resolved into a concord.

Characterized by melody, song-like.

Ariose, melodious. Used of instrumental music, it describes a sustained, vocal style; of vocal music ‘it would seem to mean that kind of air which…

Music. Especially as a direction: agitated or restless in manner.

Smooth and connected, with no breaks between the successive notes. Also in extended use.

Grand; imposing; spec. of a musical passage, movement, or composition: (to be) performed in a grand or imposing manner.

Detached, disconnected, i.e. with breaks between successive notes. Used adj. or adv. as a direction to a performer to render a passage in this…

Of vocal or musical sounds: lengthening the notes or vowels, drawling.

Light, delicate.

Of a movement, passage, or composition: marked to be played appassionato; played or performed with passion or intensity of feeling.

Of a piece of music: having heavily accented and shortened notes. Of a musical instrument: played in this style. Also as n.: this style of…

Of notes: heavily accented and left before their full time has expired; percussive. Of a note, passage, etc.: played in this style. Also in…

Weighty, ponderous; played or marked to be played ‘pesante’.

Of music: played misterioso. Also more generally: mysterious.

Characterized by this manner of performance; played in this style.

Music. Religious, devotional; played religioso.