rosalia

noun

ro·​sa·​lia

rōˈzälyə

plural -s

: a melody in which a phrase or passage is successively repeated each time a step or half step higher

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Rosalia (feminine name); from the occurrence of Rosalia as the first word in an old song employing such repetition

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

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