I'm sorry if this has been covered, but I've done a little research on this.
The original voice type is "Tenor", the part that "held" the plainchant line in a motet. (The term is related to the words "tenacious" and "untenable." hmm...)
The parts above and below the tenor were
contratenor altus (literally "against the tenor-high")
contratenor bassus (literally "against the tenor-low")
When a fourth part was added, it was called "superius" or "supreme." The Italian translation is "soprano."
Of course, "Contratenor Altus" was shortened to "Contralto" or just "Alto" and Contratenor Bassus to "Contrabass" or just "Bass."
Now you know. Of course, in practical terms, "Alto" defines a choral part, while "Contralto" defines a solo part, but the history of these terms is as I have stated above. But I just cringe when I hear someone say, "I'm not just an alto, I'm a contralto." As if they meant different things.
BTW, if anyone doubts my authority on this, check out the relavant definitions in the New Grove, Harvard, etc.
-JS
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