‖ da capo Mus.
(da ˈkapo)
[It. da from capo head, beginning.]
A direction at the end of a piece of music to repeat from the beginning; the end of the repeat being usually marked with a pause or the word Fine. (Abbreviated D.C.) Also fig.
| 1724 Short Explic. For. Wds. in Mus. Bks. (Stanf.), Da capo, or by way of Abbreviation D.C. 1740 Dyche & Pardon, D.C. in Musick signifies Da Capo, that is, give or play the whole or some particular part of an air again. 1855 Thackeray Newcomes i, And then will wake Morrow and the eyes that look on it; and so da capo. |
Hence da capo v. (nonce-wd.), to repeat (music).
| 1764 Poetry in Ann. Reg. 240 Say, will my song, da capo'd o'er, Piano soft, Andante roar. 1803 in Spir. Pub. Jrnls. (1804) VII. 21 Thus you may da capo this musical entré. |