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altissimo

[al-tis-uh-moh; Italian ahl-tees-see-maw]Music.
adjective
  1. very high.
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noun
  1. in altissimo, in the second octave above the treble staff.
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Origin of altissimo

1810–20; < Italian: literally, highest, equivalent to alt(o) high + -issimo superlative suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for altissimo

Historical Examples

  • All the rest of the objects were as usual in plano; this was in alto, indeed in altissimo rilievo.

    Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 4

    Charles Dudley Warner

  • The rapidity of his execution, and the mellow sweetness of his altissimo notes, were unequalled.

    The Violin

    George Dubourg

British Dictionary definitions for altissimo

altissimo

adjective
  1. (of music) very high in pitch
  2. of or relating to the octave commencing on the G lying an octave above the treble clef
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noun
  1. in altissimo in the octave commencing an octave above the treble clef
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Word Origin

Italian, literally: highest
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012