alternativo

1 of 2

noun

al·​ter·​na·​ti·​vo (ˌ)äl-ˌter-nə-ˈtē-(ˌ)vō 

: a musical middle section (such as a trio) that is followed by a repetition of the preceding section especially in an 18th-century dance movement (such as a minuet)

alternativo

2 of 2

adverb

al·​ter·​na·​ti·​vo (ˌ)äl-ˌter-nə-ˈtē-(ˌ)vō 

: alternately

—used as a direction in music to repeat a movement's first section (such as a minuet) following its second section (such as a trio)

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian, alternative, from Medieval Latin alternativus

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1887, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

circa 1823, in the meaning defined above

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