viola d'amore

[ vee-oh-luh dah-mawr-ey, -mohr-ey, -duh- ]

noun

, plural viola d'amores.

1. a treble viol with numerous sympathetic strings and several gut strings, producing a resonant sound.

viola d'amore

/ vɪˈəʊlə dæˈmɔːrɪ /

noun

1. an instrument of the viol family having no frets, seven strings, and a set of sympathetic strings. It was held under the chin when played

Word History and Origins

Origin of viola d'amore¹

1690–1700; < Italian: literally, viol of love

Word History and Origins

Origin of viola d'amore¹

C18: from Italian, literally: viol of love

Example Sentences

Last month, with her sweet-sounding viola d'amore in tow, she led the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra downtown in an all-Baroque program.

From Los Angeles Times

The soft timbre of Charles Pikler's viola d'amore was an unexpected if welcome touch.

From Chicago Tribune

It was no ordinary music, either; there were half-a-dozen fine voices and four or five stringed instruments, played with masterly skill—a violin, a 'viola d'amore,' and at least two or three lutes.

From Project Gutenberg

And besides being a master of his own instrument he plays the viola d'amore, that sweet-toned survival, with sympathetic strings, of the 17th century viol family, and the Hungarian czimbalom.

From Project Gutenberg

But one day seeing in a book the words "viola d'amore," he fancied he would like to possess an instrument with such a name.

From Project Gutenberg