allegretto
1 of 2adverb or adjective
al·le·gret·to ˌa-lə-ˈgre-(ˌ)tō 
ˌä-lə-
: faster than andante but not so fast as allegro —used as a direction in music
allegretto
2 of 2noun
plural allegrettos
: a musical composition or movement in allegretto tempo
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2019 Urgently dramatic outer movements enclosed the caustic jollity of the allegretto and the anguished threnody of the largo. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 22 Dec. 2017 All well and good, but the music, while beautifully played, was too drawn out, falling noticeably below Brahms' poco allegretto marking. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 12 May 2017
Noun
The aria-like allegretto offered an opportunity for Fejervari to show off his technique in layers with bass staccato notes popping against creamy treble thirds and lyrical lines. Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2019 Urgently dramatic outer movements enclosed the caustic jollity of the allegretto and the anguished threnody of the largo. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 22 Dec. 2017 All well and good, but the music, while beautifully played, was too drawn out, falling noticeably below Brahms' poco allegretto marking. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 12 May 2017 Word History
Etymology
Adverb or adjective
Italian, diminutive of allegro
First Known Use
Adverb Or Adjective
1710, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1770, in the meaning defined above