Offenbachian

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characteristic of the witty, satirical operettas composed by Jacques Offenbach, featuring light melodies and comedic plots
2. Resembling or reminiscent of the style of operetta music created by Offenbach, known for elegant humor and sparkling orchestration
3. In the manner of Offenbach's operatic works, marked by lively tunes, theatrical satire, and romantic comedy

Etymology: "Offenbachian" is formed from the place name Offenbach, the German city, with the suffix "-ian" added to mean "relating to" or "in the manner of." The city gave its name to the composer Jacques Offenbach, the German-born French composer whose sparkling operettas made him famous in Paris in the mid-nineteenth century, and the adjective follows the pattern of other words built on a person's or place's name, such as "Shakespearean" or "Wagnerian." The adjective describes things that recall Offenbach's style: light, witty, tuneful and often satirical music, with brisk rhythms and an irreverent edge. Because his works were so closely associated with the gaiety of the Second Empire, the word is used to characterise anything with that same blend of playful frivolity and mischief.