mezzo

See also: mezzo-

English

Etymology

Clipping of mezzo-soprano

Pronunciation

  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈmɛtsoʊ/, /ˈmɛdzoʊ/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmɛtsəʊ/, /ˈmɛdzəʊ/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: mez‧zo

Noun

mezzo (plural mezzos)

  1. (music) mezzo-soprano
    • 1983 January 2, John Rockwell, “New Opera May Have a Future After All”, in The New York Times:
      Emily Golden, a mezzo who was adept in an especially wide range of roles;

French

Etymology

Shortened form of Italian mezzosoprano.

Noun

mezzo f (plural mezzos)

  1. mezzo, mezzo-soprano

Further reading

Italian

Etymology 1

From Latin medius, whence also Italian medio (a borrowed doublet).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmɛd.d͡zo/
  • Rhymes: -ɛddzo
  • Hyphenation: mèz‧zo

Noun

mezzo m (plural mezzi)

  1. half, middle
  2. means, method
  3. vehicle

Adjective

mezzo (feminine mezza, masculine plural mezzi, feminine plural mezze)

  1. half
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Inherited from Latin mītius (rather/too mild, mellow, comparative neuter singular of mītis (mild)).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmet.t͡so/, /ˈmɛt.t͡so/, /ˈmed.d͡zo/, /ˈmɛd.d͡zo/[1]
  • Rhymes: -ettso, -ɛttso, -eddzo, -ɛddzo
  • Hyphenation: méz‧zo, mèz‧zo

Adjective

mezzo (feminine mezza, masculine plural mezzi, feminine plural mezze)

  1. overripe (of fruit)
  2. drenched (soaking wet)
  3. soft, flabby

References

  1. mezzo in Luciano Canepari, Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)

Further reading

Anagrams

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