ottava

American  

[oh-tah-vuh, awt-tah-vah] / oʊˈtɑ və, ɔtˈtɑ vɑ /

adverb

Music.

1. (of notes in a score) at an octave higher than written (when placed above the staff ) or lower than written (when placed below the staff ). 8va

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ottava British  

/ əʊˈtɑːvə /

noun

1. an interval of an octave See all'ottava

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Etymology

Origin of ottava

1810–20; < Italian: octave

Example Sentences

Although an occasional narrative experiment might disrupt the format, what makes “Law & Order” special is precisely the fact that it has one, like a sonnet, a sestina, or an ottava rima.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2022

He bows gracefully to ottava rima, the sonnet and ballad.

From Time Magazine Archive

The "Spenserian stanza," in which the Faery Queene was written, was adapted from the ottava riwa of Ariosto.

From Brief History of English and American Literature by Beers, Henry A. (Henry Augustin)

With regard to Plautus, Maffei mentions, as the first translation of the Amphitryon, a work in ottava rima, printed without a date.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume II by Dunlop, John

Poliziano's Rispetti are written for the most part in ottava rima.

From Renaissance in Italy: Italian Literature Part 1 (of 2) by Symonds, John Addington