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# The Good Oil Word of the Day
- URL: https://goodoil.news/the-good-oil-word-of-the-day-754/
- Published: 2026-09-10T18:33:46.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-10T18:33:46.000Z
- Author: David Theobald
- Tags: General, Word of the Day

The word for today is…

sotto voce (adverb or adjective) -

1: under the breath : in an undertone, also : in a private manner  
2: very softly —used as a direction in music

Source : [Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sotto%20voce?ref=goodoil.news)

Etymology : Sotto voce functions both as an adverb ("she began telling us sotto voce about the upcoming surprise party") and as an adjective ("he read the letter in a sotto voce delivery"). Borrowed into English from the Italian word sottovoce (literally meaning "under the voice"), the adverb sense first appeared in English in the 18th century and soon afterward found use in musical directions calling for whispered vocals. The adjective sense came about in the early 19th century.

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