neume Hear it!

neume Definition

neume (no̵̅o̅m, nyo̵̅o̅m)

noun

  1. any of various notational signs used in medieval church music, orig. put above words to be sung so as to show approximate pitch, melody line, etc.
  2. in Gregorian chant, a specific musical note, often sustained, or a group of such notes

Etymology: Fr < ML neuma, prob. ult. < Syriac ne'mo, a sound, tone, song: altered in form and sense by assoc. with Gr neuma, a sign, pneuma, a breath

neume Related Forms
neu·matic adjective