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scherzando

American  
[skert-sahn-doh, -san-] / skɛrtˈsɑn doʊ, -ˈsæn- /

adjective

  1. (a musical direction) playful; sportive.


scherzando British  
/ skɛəˈtsændəʊ /

adjective

  1. to be performed in a light-hearted manner

"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

noun

  1. a movement, passage, etc, directed to be performed in this way

"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

Etymology

Origin of scherzando

First recorded in 1785–90; from Italian, gerund of scherzare “to joke”; scherzo

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The two brought mystery and danger to the conspiratorial Allegro scherzando and prayerful tenderness to the Adagio, with just a hint of impatience simmering beneath the surface.

From New York Times

After a slow, mysterious opening passage the score becomes a mercurial scherzando.

From New York Times

The third movement, a Scherzando Vivace, became in the Emerson’s reading a strange, stylized alternation of halting indecision and headlong drive.

From New York Times

Nedda laughs uproariously at his confession, and with heartless sarcasm she quotes the scherzando music of the prospective play-scene, and says he must save his fine love-making for the stage.

From Project Gutenberg

This time-stands-still introduction breaks into a mysterious scherzando.

From New York Times