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sonata

(sə nät′ə)

noun

a composition for one or two instruments, usually consisting of several movements: some modern sonatas have single movements

Origin: It, lit., a sounding < L sonare, to sound: orig., an instrumental composition as opposed to cantata, lit., something sung

See sonata in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A composition for one or more solo instruments, one of which is usually a keyboard instrument, usually consisting of three or four independent movements varying in key, mood, and tempo.

Origin:

Origin: Italian

Origin: , from feminine past participle of sonare, to sound

Origin: , from Latin sonāre; see swen- in Indo-European roots

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