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Webster 1913 Edition

Recitative

Recˊi-ta-tive′

(rĕsˊĭ-tȧ-tēv′)
,
Noun.
[It.
recitativo
, or F.
récitatif
. See
Recite
.]
(Mus.)
A species of musical recitation in which the words are delivered in a manner resembling that of ordinary declamation; also, a piece of music intended for such recitation; – opposed to
melisma
.

Recˊi-ta-tive′

,
Adj.
Of or pertaining to recitation; intended for musical recitation or declamation; in the style or manner of recitative.
–
Recˊi-ta-tive′ly
,
adv.

Webster 1828 Edition

Recitative

RECIT'ATIVE

,
Adj.
[See recite.]
Reciting; rehearsing; pertaining to musical pronunciation.

RECIT'ATIVE

,
Noun.
a kind of musical pronunciation, such as that in which the several parts of the liturgy are rehearsed in churches, or that of actors on the stage, when they express some action or passion, relate some event or reveal some design.
In recitative, the composer and the performer endeavor to imitate the inflections, accent and emphasis of natural speech.
[Note. The natural and proper English accent of this word is on the second syllable. The foreign accent may well be discarded.]

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