songstress
歌姫
解説 Definition
女性歌手、特に優れた技能や美しい声を持つ歌手を指す。往々にして古典的または文学的な用語として、高い音楽能力を持つ女性を表現する。
A songstress is a female singer, especially one who is admired for her voice or style. It is often used in music writing or in a slightly dramatic or old-fashioned way. Today, many people simply say singer instead.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
まず song が見えるので「歌に関係ある語」と固定し、そこに女性を表すやや古風な語尾 -stress が付いた形だと覚えると残りやすい。日常会話なら singer で十分だが、songstress は「単に女性歌手」ではなく、声や表現力が際立つ歌姫という響きがある。レビューや紹介文で legendary songstress, jazz songstress のように出やすい。中立的な singer より華やかで文学的、少し格調高い語感だと押さえると混同しにくい。
You can see `song` clearly inside `songstress`, so start there. Then remember `-stress` as an old-fashioned ending for a female performer, which gives the word a more elegant, literary feeling than plain `singer`. Phrases like `jazz songstress` or `legendary songstress` make that tone easier to remember.
例文
The famous songstress performed at the concert.
有名な歌姫がコンサートで演奏した。
She was a celebrated songstress of her era.
彼女はその時代の有名な歌姫だった。
The young songstress captivated the audience with her voice.
その若い歌姫は彼女の声で観客を魅了した。
songstress の類義語・関連語
songstress の語源・成り立ち Etymology
songstress は古英語系の song「歌」に、女性名詞を作る接尾辞 -stress が付いた語です。もとに女性歌手を表した songster があり、さらに女性性を重ねた形なので「歌う女性」という像が強く出ます。関連語は sing, singer。
"Songstress" was formed from the Old English-based word "song" and the suffix "-stress," which was used to mark female nouns. It was built on the pattern of "songster," and then made more clearly feminine. The history shows a shift from simply "one who sings" to specifically "a female singer." Related words include "sing" and "singer."
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