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mordent

(môr′dənt)

noun

Music an ornament made by a single rapid alternation of a principal tone with a subsidiary tone a half step or whole step below: in a there are two alternations: in an the subsidiary tone is a half step or whole step above the principal tone

Origin: Ger < It mordente, prp. of mordere < L, to bite: see mordant

See mordent in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A melodic ornament in which a principal tone is rapidly alternated with the tone a half or full step below.

Origin:

Origin: German

Origin: , from Italian mordente

Origin: , from mordere, to bite

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *mordere

Origin: , from Latin mordēre; see mer- in Indo-European roots

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