a. Mus. [It. = with feeling, affecting.] With feeling; a direction placed over a single passage, or at the commencement of a movement, ‘in which case a somewhat slow tune is intended.’ Grove. Hence fig. as sb.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, i. Wks. VIII. 132. The tender, soothing strains, in the affettuoso of humanity.
