sinfonietta

English - English

Definition of sinfonietta in English English dictionary

A small orchestra

A small-scale symphony (either in length or size of orchestra needed)

Hyphenation

sin·fo·niet·ta

Etymology

() Either: * from the Italian sinfonietta; * formed on the Italian roots sinfonia (“symphony”) + -etta (feminine diminutive suffix), either in English or in German (as Sinfonietta) and adopted thence; or, * an alteration of the French symphoniette to resemble an Italian construction of the form sinfonia + -etta. Compare the French–Italian hybrid symphonietta.