sotto voce
adverb or adjective
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It’s no secret: sotto voce functions both as an adverb ("she began telling us sotto voce about the upcoming surprise party") and as an adjective ("he read the letter in a sotto voce delivery"). Borrowed into English from the Italian word sottovoce (literally meaning "under the voice"), the adverb sense first appeared in English in the 18th century and soon afterward found use in musical directions calling for whispered vocals. The adjective sense came about in the early 19th century.
Examples of sotto voce in a Sentence
Marley Marius, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2024
Sometimes the subject is discussed openly, sometimes sotto voce.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Nov. 2023
Romney told McKay Coppins something that other Republicans have addressed, usually sotto voce.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 16 Oct. 2023
The result has been a more dynamic broadcast that has captured sotto voce moments among members not typically witnessed by the general public — and some have gone viral online.
—Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for sotto voce 
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Dictionary Entries Near sotto voce
Cite this Entry
“Sotto voce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sotto%20voce. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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sotto voce
adverb or adjective
from Italian sottovoce, literally, "under the voice"
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