mezzon.2
/ˈmɛtsəʊ/, /ˈmɛdzəʊ/, U.S. /ˈmɛtsoʊ/, /ˈmɛ(d)zoʊ/ Printing. Now rare.
= mezzotint n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > engraving > intaglio printing > [noun] > mezzotint > a mezzotint
mezzotint1800
mezzo1886
1886 Athenæum 3 July 18/1 He was offered 240l. for a lot of early mezzos... One of these early mezzotints was worth a thousand pounds.
1900 Dict. National Biogr. LXIII. 170/1 A mezzo portrait by Robert Laurie after R. Dighton was published in 1779.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
mezzoadj.n.1
/ˈmɛdzəʊ/, /ˈmɛtsəʊ/, U.S. /ˈmɛtsoʊ/, /ˈmɛ(d)zoʊ/ Music.
A. adj.
= mezzo-soprano adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [adjective] > mezzo
mezzo-soprano1789
mezzo1832
1832 Westm. Rev. 17 357 The distinct soprano, mezzo, contr'alto, and tenor voices.
1892 A. C. Gunter Miss Dividends (1893) 78 This young lady..has a brilliant mezzo voice.
1975 Times 22 Apr. 13/4 Irina Arkipovna has been singing leading mezzo roles at the Bolshoi for almost 20 years.
B. n.1
= mezzo-soprano n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [noun] > mezzo
mezzo-soprano1838
mezzo1874
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > singer > singer by type of voice > [noun] > mezzo
mezzo-soprano1861
mezzo1874
1874 Galaxy Aug. 290/2 This is the requiem, to which is joined the ‘Kyrie’, sung by soprano, mezzo, tenor, [printed mezzo-tenor] and bass.
1880 M. K. Waddington Let. 22 Feb. in Italian Lett. (1905) i. 40 I think the daughter will have a very pretty voice, like her mother's, a rich, low, mezzo.
1926 Poets & their Art 230 Let him listen to the clear singing of women—..mezzos and contraltos like Helen Hoyt, Alice Corbin, Louise Bogan and Agnes Lee.
1969 A. McCaffrey Ship who Sang 7 It was curious for a female to sing bass, baritone, tenor, mezzo, soprano, and coloratura as she pleased.
1992 Opera News Nov. 54/3 Casting was at least adequate, headed by the able mezzo of Melanie Sonnenberg.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
mezzoadv.
/ˈmɛtsəʊ/, /ˈmɛdzəʊ/, U.S. /ˈmɛtsoʊ/, /ˈmɛ(d)zoʊ/ Music.
Modifying a musical direction: half, moderately, fairly (see also the second element). Esp. in mezzo forte (also as n.), mezzo piano (also as n.), mezzo staccato.
ΚΠ
1740 J. Grassineau tr. S. De Brossard Musical Dict. 131 Mezzo, signifies half, and is often found in composition with some other word; as, mezzo soprano, is the haut centre, or high tenor, which has the cleff C sol ut on the second line.
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music p. xxx The Mezzo Forte, or rather loud.
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music p. xxx The Mezzo Piano, or rather soft.
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music p. xxx The Mezzo Staccato..or extremely smooth and distinct.
1878 T. Helmore Catech. Mus. xxxiii. 68 Mezzo-staccato marks.
1955 Times 30 May 3/5 It seems a pity not to take advantage of it in place of the unblinking mezzo-forte adopted by Mr. Jones.
1967 Times 23 Nov. 8/8 She scarcely ever spoke at less than a shout and needs to find the occasional mezzo forte.
1992 N.Y. Times 21 Jan. c15/1 Have the chorus..sing its final line in a velvety mezzo piano.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.21886
adj.n.11832adv.1740- scorpion-scourge
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