oratorio

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At the emotional heart of the oratorio is the struggle of Nitocris, Belshazzar's mother, to oppose the son she loves and allow him to be conquered and killed by the invading Persians.

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Definitions (6)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun A musical composition for voices and orchestra, telling a sacred story without costumes, scenery, or dramatic action.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (3)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples (50)

 

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This word has been looked up 87 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Italian, after Oratorio, the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri at Rome, where famous musical services were held in the 16th century.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Italian oratorio, from Late Latin oratorium, a place of prayer, an oratory or a chapel. The name was originally given to sacred musical works because they were first performed in the oratory of the church of Sta. Maria in Vallicella, under the patronage of Philip Neri: see oratory.
 

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/ɑrəˈtoʊrɪoʊ/
by American Heritage

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