Also 8 encora. [a. Fr. encore still, yet (in some contexts translated by ‘again’); cf. the synonymous Pr. encara, enquera, OSp. encara, It. ancora. (Usually these words have been regarded as:—L. (in) hanc hōram until this hour; but the phonology is not wholly clear, and other explanations have been proposed, e.g., by Havet in Romania, VIII. 94.) The use of It. ANCORA occurs in Eng. equally early; the form encora in 18th c. is due to confusion between the Fr. and the It. word.
There appears to be no evidence that either the Fr. or the It. word was ever similarly used in its native country. The corresponding word both in Fr. and It. is bis; in It. da capo was formerly used.]
A. int. Again, once more: used by spectators or auditors to demand the repetition of a song, piece of music, or other performance, that has pleased them.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 314, ¶ 9. Whenever any Gentlemen are particularly pleased with a Song, at their crying out Encore … the Performer is so obliging as to sing it over again.
1766. C. Anstey, New Bath Guide, xii. 95.
| The Minuet’s good, but the Jig I adore; | |
| Pray speak to Sir Toby to cry out Encore. |
1781. J. Moore, View Soc. It., I. 153. A Duo … drew an universal encora from the spectators.
1825. Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 1464. Loud cries and shouts of ‘encore,’ roused him from temporary repose.
B. sb. A call for the repetition of a song, etc.; the repetition itself. Also attrib.
1763. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., xii. 206. If the Audience were warmed by the Subject of an Opera,… the Encore, instead of being desireable, would generally disgust.
1811. Byron, Hints from Hor., 310. His anguish doubling by his own ‘encore.’
1839. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xxii. That’ll be a double encore if you take care, boys.
1883. Athenæum, 2 June, 697/3. There is nothing in the twenty pages … to warrant an encore.
1884. G. Moore, Mummer’s Wife (1887), 192. I know all the words except the encore verse.
Mod. No encores allowed.
