countertenor

[ koun-ter-ten-er ]

noun

, Music.

1. an adult male voice or voice part higher than the tenor.
2. a singer with such a voice; a high tenor.

countertenor

/ ˌkaʊntəˈtɛnə /

noun

1. an adult male voice with an alto range
2. a singer with such a voice

Word History and Origins

Origin of countertenor¹

1350–1400; Middle English cownturenur, apparently < Anglo-French; compare Middle French contreteneur, Old Italian contratenore, equivalent to contra- contra- ²( def ) + tenore tenor

Related Words

• falsetto