noun
volta
VOHL-tuh
noun
1
In poetry, especially a sonnet, the turning point where the argument or mood shifts.
"The volta arrives in the ninth line, where the tone suddenly turns hopeful."
2
A lively couples' dance from the late Renaissance period.
"Courtiers performed the volta at royal celebrations."
How to Use Volta
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA turning point in a poem, or an old Renaissance dance.
When to use it
Mostly used in literary criticism when discussing sonnets.
Word Forms
voltas plural, Voltas plural
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The _____ arrives in the ninth line, where the tone suddenly turns hopeful.
Etymology
From Italian volta, "a turn," a doublet of the English word "volte."