ˌrēˌcherˈkär noun
or ri·cer·ca·re -ä(ˌ)rā
( plural ricercars -ärz ; or ricerca·ri -ä(ˌ)rē)
Etymology: Italian, from ricercare to seek again, seek out, from ri- re- (from Latin re- ) + cercare to seek (from Late Latin circare to go about, traverse); from the disguising of the subjects by various alterations — more at search
1. : a contrapuntal instrumental composition analogous to the motet in vocal music usually consisting in the 16th century of a series of fugal expositions on different subjects and in the 17th century developing into the true fugue on a single subject
2. : a learned and elaborate fugue especially in the 18th century