Songstresses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A female artist who performs music vocally, often characterized by an emotional delivery and distinct style
2. Women renowned for their vocal skills and musical expression, typically in a public or professional setting
3. Female singers who are acknowledged for their solo performances, often showcasing unique talents and creative interpretations

Etymology: The plural noun in question derives from a feminine form built upon the base word "songstress," which itself emerged in English during the 19th century. The suffix "-stress" was commonly added to English nouns to denote a female agent performing a particular action, paralleling the masculine "-er." Thus, "songstress" specifically identifies a woman who sings, particularly a professional or notable female singer. The root "song" is an Old English word, "sang," meaning a musical composition or vocal melody, with origins tracing back to Proto-Germanic and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root for singing or sound. By combining "song" with "-stress," English speakers created a term that emphasized the gender of the performer in an era when such distinctions were often marked linguistically. While the masculine counterpart "songster" also existed, meaning a male singer or one who sings, "songstress" gained particular cultural currency in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often used in concert reviews, opera programs, and popular media to highlight celebrated female vocalists. Over time, the usage of gender-specific agent nouns like this has declined in favor of more neutral terms, but the plural form remains a clear marker of multiple female singers in contexts that retain a traditional flavor. The formation of the plural simply follows English conventions by adding an "-es" ending, as the singular ends with an "s" sound, making "songstresses" the appropriate plural form to denote more than one female singer.

Synonyms: singer, vocalist, performer