cavatina

(kav′ə tēnə; It kä′vä tē)

noun

  1. a short, simple solo song or melody that is usually part of a larger composition, such as an opera or oratorio
  2. loosely an instrumental composition of lyric quality

Origin: It, dim. of cavata, artful production of sound < cavare, to dig out, extract < L, to excavate < cavus: see cave

link/cite print suggestion box