Now rare. [It., fem. of virtuoso VIRTUOSO.] A female virtuoso.
1668. Shadwell, Sullen Lovers, II. D’ye think, I that am a Virtuosa understand no better, then to leave you now you are not well?
1675. Plume, Life of Hacket (1865), 20. Pope Gregory XV. had canonised Ignatius Loyola … and Madam Teresia, a Spanish Virtuosa.
1754. Chesterf., in World, No. 98, ¶ 8. Consequently those respectable titles of virtuoso and virtuosa have not the least relation to the moral characters of the parties.
1796. Burney, Mem. Metastasio, II. 161. This virtuosa, being unemployed, will doubtless have offers from other quarters.
1826. Margravine of Anspach, Mem., I. viii. 310. The Virtuosa the other day had sung a Hebrew air, which began at the end.
1847. Leitch, trans. C. O. Müller’s Anc. Art, § 425. 505. A musical virtuosa playing at the same time on a standing and lying stringed instrument.
