adv., a. and sb. [It. sotto under + voce voice.]
1. In a subdued or low voice: a. Of speech.
1737. Chesterf., in Common Sense, 10 Sept. (1738), 226. And in a half Voice, or Sotto voce, discusses her solid Trifles in his Ear.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, II. iii. 30. A whole host of hangers-on, who were disputing by no means sotto voce, whether Lady Gander was mad or not.
1853. ‘C. Bede,’ Verdant Green, II. vi. ‘As though they were bursting with envy—not to say with laughter,’ added Mr. Bouncer, sotto voce.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xii. ‘Even proverbs warn me against him.’ He quoted two, sotto voce, to Titus.
b. Of singing (or playing).
1775. Ann. Reg., II. 65. Gabrieli … sung all her airs in what they call sotto voce, that is, so low, that they can scarcely be heard.
1780. Mirror, No. 89. That sort of singing below the full powers of the performer’s voice, which the Italians call singing sotto-voce.
1801. Busby, Dict. Mus., Sotto Voce, an expression implying that the movement, or the passage, over which it is written is to be played or sung moderately loud.
1872. C. King, Mountain. Sierra Nev., x. 218. Then sotto voce, for we were very near, he sang again.
2. fig. Quietly, privately.
1819. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), IV. vii. 226. Will you make these enquiries for me sotto voce?
3. As adj. Uttered, etc., in an undertone.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, IV. viii. ¶ 6. There was not a sotto voce passage during the whole visit.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, viii. ‘God forbid!’ said the Justice, in a tone of sotto-voce deprecation.
1859. Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, liii. David’s sotto voce performance of ‘My love’s a rose without a thorn.’
1885. L’pool Daily Post, 7 May, 5/3. There was a suggestion of buoyancy and joviality in his sotto voce sallies.
4. As sb. A remark made in an undertone.
1868. H. A. Stern, Captive Missionary, viii. 185. I only heard from two an ironical sotto voce, ‘Well, will you walk again?’
