aria
/ˈɑːriə/
noun
Origin
Italian
aria — air
Overview
Meaning Now
- A self-contained musical composition for solo voice, typically part of a larger work such as an opera, oratorio, or cantata.
Literal older meaning
air
Language path
Greek → Latin → Italian → English
Earliest form
aria
Earliest period
18th century
Journey
The term entered English during the rise of Italian opera in the 18th century. In Italian, 'aria' means 'air'; its musical usage originally implied a 'tune' that could be sung or played, later becoming restricted to the specific operatic form meant for a soloist to express emotion.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
ἀήρ
“air”
- Latin
āēr
“air, atmosphere”
- Italian
aria
“air, manner, melody”
Evolved in the sense of a tune or melody.
- English
aria
“solo vocal composition”
Connections
Related words
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Related to aria
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.