Etymology Map
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Scherzo

2 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means a lively, often playful movement in a musical work, especially a symphony
1
Stage 1 of 2
scherzo
Italian · 1700s
"a joke, jest"
literally a joke, a lively, playful musical movement
2
Stage 2 of 2
scherzo
English · 1800s
"a lively, playful musical movement"
adopted directly for a playful, energetic musical movement
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