mezzo

See also: mezzo-

English

Etymology

Clipping of mezzo-soprano

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛtsoʊ/, /ˈmɛdzoʊ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛtsəʊ/, /ˈmɛdzəʊ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (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;

Related terms

• mezzo forte
• mezzo-rilievo

 

French

Etymology

Shortened form of Italian mezzosoprano.

Noun

mezzo f (plural mezzos)

1. mezzo, mezzo-soprano

Further reading

• “mezzo”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

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

• a mezzo
• ammezzare
• di mezzo
• dimezzare
• in mezzo a
• intermezzo
• mezz'aria
• mezz'asta
• mezz'ora
• mezza majolica
• mezza voce
• mezzacartuccia
• mezzadria
• mezzadro
• mezzala
• mezzaluna
• mezzamaiolica
• mezzanella
• mezzanino
• mezzanità
• mezzano
• mezzanotte
• mezzavela
• mezzena
• mezzeria
• mezzità
• mezzo di contrasto
• mezzo piano
• mezzocielo
• mezzogiorno
• mezzopunto
• mezzosoprano
• nel bel mezzo di
• per mezzo di
• smezzare

 

Related terms

• mezzano

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/
• 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

Further reading

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

Anagrams

• mozze