cantatrice

noun

plural cantatrices ˌkän-tə-ˈtrē-(ˌ)chāz How to pronounce cantatrice (audio)
ˌkäⁿ-tə-ˈtrēs,
ˌkäⁿ-tə-ˈtrē-səz
or cantatrici ˌkän-tə-ˈtrē-(ˌ)chē How to pronounce cantatrice (audio)
: a woman who is a singer
especially : an opera singer

Examples of cantatrice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Alexandra studied music at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, sailed back east, and joined the Hanoi Opera Company as première cantatrice for the next two years. Ailsa Ross, Longreads, 9 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Italian & French; French, from Italian, from Late Latin cantatric-, cantatrix, feminine of Latin cantator singer, from cantare

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cantatrice was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near cantatrice

Cite this Entry

“Cantatrice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cantatrice. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!