ossia

American  

[oh-see-uh] / oʊˈsi ə /

conjunction

1. (indicating an alternative, usually easier, version of a passage in a musical score) or; or else.

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Etymology

Origin of ossia

First recorded in 1875–80, ossia is from Italian o sia “or let it be”

Example Sentences

The company is performing dozens of different titles, including Meyerbeer’s “Les Huguenots”; a staging of two unfinished Mozart operas, “L’Oca del Cairo, ossia lo Sposo Deluso”; and plenty of war horses.

From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2018

Notwithstanding the Latin title, the work itself is wholly in Italian and both in the MSS. and in later printed editions is found also under the title Deifira ossia del mal principiato amore.

From Catalogue of the William Loring Andrews Collection of Early Books in the Library of Yale University by Van Name, Addison

Carteggio di Madama la Marchesa di Pompadour, ossia raccolta di Lettere scritte della Medesima.

From The Stones of Venice, Volume I (of 3) by Ruskin, John

B. Lugari: Le catacombe ossia il sepolcro apostolico dell' Appia.

From Pagan and Christian Rome by Lanciani, Rodolfo Amedeo

Of these the most important result was Il Triregno, ossia del regno del cielo, della terra, e del papa.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 8 "Germany" to "Gibson, William" by Various