viola d'amore

American  

[vee-oh-luh dah-mawr-ey, -mohr-ey, -duh-] / viˈoʊ lə dɑˈmɔr eɪ, -ˈmoʊr eɪ, -də- /

noun

viola d'amores plural

1. a treble viol with numerous sympathetic strings and several gut strings, producing a resonant sound.

---

viola d'amore British  

/ vɪˈəʊlə dæˈmɔːrɪ /

noun

1. an instrument of the viol family having no frets, seven strings, and a set of sympathetic strings. It was held under the chin when played

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• viola d'amores
  plural

Etymology

Origin of viola d'amore

1690–1700; < Italian: literally, viol of love

Example Sentences

Glendale Noon Concerts Ergo Musica plays works for viola d’amore, soprano and baroque cello.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2019

Glendale Noon Concerts Classical works for viola d’amore, basset horn and viola by Stamitz, Krumlovsky and Haydn.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2019

At the Stone on Monday, Garth Knox breathes new life into an old instrument, the viola d’amore, whose sympathetic strings resonate even as they remain untouched by the bow.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2014

Three of them were for viola d’amore, a member of the viol family that was largely superseded in the classical period by the violin and its relatives.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 19, 2014

But one day seeing in a book the words "viola d'amore," he fancied he would like to possess an instrument with such a name.

From Evelyn Innes by Moore, George (George Augustus)