Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
CONTRALTO
alto, contralto
(adjective) of or being the lowest female voice
contralto, alto
(noun) the lowest female singing voice
contralto
(noun) a woman singer having a contralto voice
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Contraction of contratenor alto, from Latin contratenor altus.
Noun
contralto (plural contraltos or contralti)
(music) The lowest female voice or voice part, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to a similar musical pitch, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; the equivalent male form is counter-tenor. Originally the contratenor altus was a high countermelody sung against the tenor or main melody.
Synonyms
• alto
Coordinate terms
• (voice types): soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)
Source: Wiktionary
Con*tral"to ( or , n. Etym: [It., fr. contra + alto. See Alto.] (Mus.) (a) The part sung by the highest male or lowest female voices; the alto or counter tenor. (b) the voice or singer performing this part; as, her voice is a contralto; she is a contralto.
Note: The usual range of the contralto voice is from G, below middle C, to the C above that; though exceptionally it embraces two octaves.
Con*tral"to ( or , a. (Mus.)
Definition: Of or pertaining to a contralto, or to the part in music called contralto; as, a contralto voice.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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