roˈmanza
(roˈmanza; in Sp. contexts also roˈmanθa)
Also -ansa.
† 1. [ad. It. romanzo: see romanzo.] A romance; a romantic fancy. Obs.
| 1641 Earl of Monmouth tr. Biondi's Civil Warres iv. 54 The supposal..smels of a Romansa and inchantment. 1656 ― tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. i. lxxviii. (1674) 105 The Paladins of Spanish Romansa's. a 1661 Fuller Worthies, Surrey iii. (1662) 87 Conceiving it rather a Romanza or Fiction than a thing really performed. Ibid., Yorks., It will sound Romanza-like to posterity. |
‖ 2. Mus. [a. It., Sp. romanza.] A romantic song or melody; a lyrical piece of music; = romance n. 4 b.
| 1834 Chambers's Edin. Jrnl. III. 110/2 Another youth..begins singing a Spanish romanza. 1938 Oxf. Compan. Mus. 810/2 Romanza.., a song or song-like instrumental composition. 1970 J. Blades Percussion Instruments x. 196 Alexander Goehr scores for the lion's roar in his Romanza for 'cello and orchestra (1968). 1975 New Yorker 16 June 97/3 Then the romanza begins. |