WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
af•fet•tuo•so
(ə fech′o̅o̅ ō′sō; It. äf′fet twô′zô),USA pronunciation adj. adv., n., pl. -sos. [Music.]
adj., adv.
n.
adj., adv.
- Music and Dancewith affection and tenderness (a musical direction).
n.
- Music and Dancea composition or movement of gentle, tender character.
- Latin affectuōsus, equivalent. to affectu(s) affect1 + -ōsus -ous
- Italian: affecting, moving
- 1715–25