A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Encore

ENCORE—the French for 'again'—the cry in English theatres and concert-rooms when a piece is desired to be repeated. It has taken the place of the 'altra volta' of last century. The French and Germans use the Italian [App. p.627 "Latin"] term 'Bis,' and the French have even a verb, 'bisser.' 'Le public anglais est grand redemandeur, et exprime son vœu par un mot français, comme nous par un mot latin' (A. Adam, Souvenirs, xxvii.). [App. p.627 "An anonymous ballad, circa 1740, entitled 'Encore,' and beginning 'When at my nymph's devoted feet,' shows the term to have been in use much earlier than is implied in the article."