Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adverb & adjective In soft tones, so as not to be overheard; in an undertone.
- adverb & adjective Music In very soft tones. Used chiefly as a direction.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- (Mus.) With a restrained voice or moderate force; in an undertone.
- Spoken low or in an undertone.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective of speech, of a voice, etc In
soft tones ;quiet . - adjective music
soft (can be used of instruments other than the voice, such as pianos) - adverb of speech, of a voice, etc (speaking)
quietly - adverb music (spoken or played)
softly (can be used of instruments other than the voice, such as pianos) - noun music A
direction in ascore that a passage in a piece should be played softly (or sung 'under the voice', when applied to vocal music).
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adverb in an undertone
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[Italian : sotto, under + voce, voice.]
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
From Italian, literally "low voice".
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Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
treeseed commented on the word sotto voce
Sotto voce (literally "under voice"), an Italian expression, means to speak under one's breath or to speak confidentially. In music, a dramatic lowering of the vocal or instrumental tone -- not necessarily pianissimo, but with a hushed quality. May also denote muttering in theatrical or film scripts. Actual translation means "Soft Voice".
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
skipvia commented on the word sotto voce
April Stevens' use of sotto voce on Teach Me Tiger got her banned from many radio stations because her whispered moans were considered too "suggestive."
An amusing song that should have been banned simply because it was so bad.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sotto voce
Skipvia...I never heard that song but I do love the Deep Purple cheese of April Stevens and Nino Tempo.
February 11, 2008
skipvia commented on the word sotto voce
I was surprised to find Teach Me Tiger the other day on iTunes. I bought it for old times' sake.
February 11, 2008
5814738 commented on the word sotto voce
"'Everybody's a goddam critic,' Susannah said sotto voce." From Wizard and Glass by Stephen King.
January 11, 2011