Sinfonietta

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: sÄ­nfōnyĕʹtÉ™, IPA: /sɪnfəʊˈnjÉ›tÉ™/

Origin

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.

Full definition of sinfonietta

Noun

1. (music) A small-scale symphony (either in length or size of orchestra needed).
2. (music) A small orchestra.

Anagrams

• festination, infestation