Vocabulary for the College Bound Student, Chapter 9
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basso
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lowest male voice; bass
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baritone
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male voice between bass and tenor
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tenor
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adult male voice between baritone and alto
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alto
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highest male voice; lowest female voice, the contralto
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contralto
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lowest female voice
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mezzo-soprano
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female voice between contralto and soprano
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soprano
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highest singing voice in women and boys
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coloratura
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ornamental passages (runs, trills, etc.) in vocal music; soprano who sings such passages
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falsetto
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unnaturally high-pitched male voice; artificially high voice
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grave
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slow (the slowest tempo in music)
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largo
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slow and dignified; stately
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adagio
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slow; in an easy, graceful manner
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lento
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slow
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andante
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moderately slow, but flowing
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moderato
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in moderate time
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allegro
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brisk; quick; lively
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vivace
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brisk; spirited
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presto
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quick
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prestissimo
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at a very rapid pace
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crescendo
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gradually increasing in force or loudness
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decrescendo
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gradually decreasing in force or loudness
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dolce
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soft; sweet
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forte
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loud
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fortissimo
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very loud
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pianissimo
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very soft
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piano
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soft
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sforzando
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accented
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a cappella
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without musical accompaniment
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arpeggio
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production of the tones of a chord in rapid succession, rather than at the same time; a chord thus played
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legato
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smooth and connected
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pizzicato
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by means of plucking the strings instead of using the bow
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staccato
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with breaks between successive notes; disconnected; abrupt
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tremolo
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rapid repetition of a tone or chord, without apparent breaks, to express emotion
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vibrato
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slightly throbbing or pulsating effect, adding warmth and beauty to the tone
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aria
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air, melody, or tune; especially, an elaborate, accompanied melody for a single voice in an opera
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bravura
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piece of music requiring skill nad spirit in the performer; display of daring or brilliancy
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cantata
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story or play set to music to be sung by a chorus, but not acted
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concerto
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long musical composition for one or more principal instruments with orchestral accompaniment
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duet
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piece of music for two voices or instruments; two singers or players performing together; duo
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finale
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close or termination, as the last sectoin of a musical composition
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intermezzo
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short musical or dramatic entertainment between the acts of a play; short musical composition between the main divisions of an extended musical work; short, independent musical composition
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libretto
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text or words or an opera or other long musical composition
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opera
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play mostly sung, with costumes, scenery, action, and music
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oratorio
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musical composition, usually on a religious theme, for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra
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scherzo
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light or playful part of a sonata or symphony
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solo
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piece of music for one voice or instrument; anything done without a partner
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sonata
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piece of music having three or four movements in contrasted rhythms but related tonality
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trio
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piece of music for three voices or instruments; three singers or players performing together
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tutti
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(adv.) all
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tutti
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(n.) section of a musical composition performed by all the performers
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cameo
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carved gem with a design higher and of a different color than its background; brief role, usually limited to a single scene, by a prominent actor or actress; brief passage of exceptionally fine writing
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campanile
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bell tower
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canto
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one of the chief divisions of a long poem
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chiaroscuro
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distribution and teatment of light and shade in painting or sketching; painting or drawing that uses only light and shade
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cupola
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rounded roof; dome; small dome or tower on a roof
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fresco
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art of painting with watercolors on damp fresh plaster; picture or design so painted
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intaglio
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design engraved by making cuts in a surface
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majolica
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enameled Italian pottery richly decorated in colors
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mezzanine
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intermediate story in a theater between the main floor and the first balcony
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mezzotint
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picture engraved on copper or steel by polishing or scraping away parts of a roughened surface
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patina
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film or incrustation, usually green, on the surface of old bronze or copper
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portico
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roof supported by columns, forming a porch or a covered walk
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rialto
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marketplace; theater district or a town
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rotunda
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round building, especially one with a dome or cupola; large round room
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stucco
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plaster for covering exterior walls of buildings
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tempera
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method of painting in which the colors are mixed with white of eggor other substances, instead of oil
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terra-cotta
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kind of hard, brownish-red earthenware, used for vases, statuettes, etc.; dull brownish-red color
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torso
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trunk or body of a statue without head, arms, or legs; human trunk
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buffo
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male singer who plays a comic role in an opera; buffoon; clown
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cognoscente
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person who has a superior knowledge and understanding of a particular field; expert; connoisseur
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dilettante
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person who follows some art or science as an amusement or in a trifling way
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diva
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principal female singer in an opera; prima donna
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impresario
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organizer, or director of an opera or ballet company or a concert series; manager; promoter
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inamorata
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woman who loves or is loved
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inamorato
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man who loves or is loved
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maestro
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eminent conductor, composer, or teacher of music; master in any art
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mountebank
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boastful pretender; charlatan; quack
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politico
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politician
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prima donna
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principal female singer in an opera; high-strung, vain, or extremely sensitive person
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simpatico
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possessing attractive qualities; appealing; likable; congenial
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virtuoso
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one who exhibits great technical skill in an art, especially in playing a musical instrument
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dolce far niente
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delightful idleness
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fiasco
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crash; complete or ridiculous failure
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imbroglio
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difficult situation; complicated disagreement
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incognito
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(adv.) with one's identity concealed
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incognito
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(n.) disguised state
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vendetta
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feud for blood revenge
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antipasto
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appetizer consisting of fish, meats, etc.; hors d oeuvres
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Chianti
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a dry, red Italian wine
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gusto
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liking or taste; hearty enjoyment
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pasta
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wheat paste or dough-either dried, as for spaghetti or macaroni, or used fresh, as for ravioli; dish of cooked pasta
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pizza
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large, flat pie of bread dough spread with tomato pulp, cheese, meat, anchovies, etc.
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alfresco
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in the open air; outdoor
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brava
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(used to applaud a woman performer) well done; excellent
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bravo
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(used to applaud a performance or a male performer) well done; excellent
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gondola
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boat used in the canals of Venice; cabin attached to the underpart of an airship
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grotto
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cave
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piazza
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open square in an Italian town; veranda or porch
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portfolio
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briefcase; position or duties of a cabinet member or minister of state
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salvo
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simultaneous discharge of shots; burst of cheers
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sotto voce
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under the breath; in an undertone; privately
