What does "senza" imply in a musical direction?

The term "senza" is an Italian word used in musical directions that translates to "without" in English. It appears frequently in performance instructions to indicate that a certain element should be omitted. For instance, "senza sordino" means "without mute," instructing musicians to play without any mute device, allowing the full sound of the instrument to resonate. Thus, the purpose of using "senza" is to guide musicians in their interpretation and execution of the piece by explicitly stating what is to be excluded. Understanding this terminology is crucial for interpreting various musical scores accurately.