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castrato

[ ka-strah-toh, kuh-; Italian kah-strah-taw ]

noun

, plural cas·tra·ti [ka-, strah, -tee, k, uh, -, kah-, strah, -tee].
  1. a male singer, especially in the 18th century, castrated before puberty to prevent his soprano or contralto voice range from changing.


castrato

/ kæˈstrɑːtəʊ /

noun

  1. (in 17th- and 18th-century opera) a male singer whose testicles were removed before puberty, allowing the retention of a soprano or alto voice
“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


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Word History and Origins

Origin of castrato1

1755–65; < Italian < Latin castrāt ( us ); castrate
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Word History and Origins

Origin of castrato1

C18: from Italian, from Latin castrātus castrated
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Example Sentences

In his portrait of a castrato, Andrea Sacchi let a well-hung Apollo make up for the singer's loss.

The Daily Pic: In his portrait of a castrato, Andrea Sacchi let a well-hung Apollo make up for the singer's loss.

He laughed, a high-pitched chirp that sounded like a castrato.

This is followed by a air for castrato, in which the violinist has to imitate the tone and that style of singing.

I had recently heard the entrancing castrato singing at St. Peter's, and, on conquering my aversion, could not but admire it.

I thought he was a 'castrato' who, as is the custom in Rome, performed all the parts of a prima donna.

My mother advised me to continue to give myself out as a castrato, in the hope of being able to take me to Rome.

My new visitor proved to be the first castrato of the theatre, who brought an invitation to dinner from Narici.

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castration complexCastries