Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » obbligato

obbligato

(äb′li gät′ō)

adjective

not to be left out; indispensable: said earlier, generally prior to the 19th cent., of an accompaniment essential to the proper performance of a piece, but now usually of one that can be omitted if necessary: often used as a musical direction

Origin: It, lit., obliged < L obligatus, pp. of obligare: see oblige

noun pl. obbligatos or obbligati

an obbligato accompaniment
an added melody, usually played by a solo instrument as accompaniment to a vocal performance

See obbligato in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also ob·li·ga·to

adjective

Not to be left out; indispensable. Used of an accompaniment that is an integral part of a piece.

noun pl. ob·bli·ga·tos also ob·li·ga·tos or ob·bli·ga·ti also ob·li·ga·ti (-tē)

An obbligato accompaniment.

Origin:

Origin: Italian

Origin: , past participle of obbligare, to obligate

Origin: , from Latin obligāre, to oblige; see oblige

Learn more about obbligato

obbligato in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD