opéra comique

noun

op·​éra co·​mique

ˈō-pā-rä-kä-ˈmēk,

-kō- 

ˈä-p(ə-)rə-

: an opera characterized by spoken dialogue interspersed between the arias and ensemble numbers compare grand opera

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, comic opera

First Known Use

1742, in the meaning defined above