Browse dictionary
Showing 1-20 of 1684 results in 1684 entries
1. abraxas, n. View full entry 1713
...An instance or utterance of the magical word ‘abraxas’, supposed (esp. in Gnosticism) to act as a charm; a gem, amulet, etc., inscribed with this word or other cabbalistic signs. Cf. ...
2. abridgedly, adv. View full entry 1704
...In an abridged form; concisely, in brief....
3. absolute pitch, n. View full entry 1721
...A fixed standard of pitch determined by the frequency of vibration....
4. academism, n. View full entry 1733
...Philos. Also with capital initial. = academicism1b....
5. a cappella, adv., adj., and n. View full entry 1785
...Without instrumental accompaniment (originally applied to choral music)....
6. accelerando, adv., n., and adj. View full entry 1784
...With a gradual increase of speed. Freq. as an instruction in a score....
7. acciaccatura, n. View full entry 1749
...An ornament in keyboard music consisting of a non-harmonic note a tone or semitone below the main note, sounded simultaneously with it and immediately released; (also in 19th and 20th cent. music)...
8. accompanier, n. View full entry 1753
...A person who or thing which accompanies....
9. accompanist, n. View full entry 1768
...A person who or thing which accompanies; esp. a person who provides a musical accompaniment....
10. accordatura, n. View full entry 1782
...A manner of tuning a stringed instrument; (chiefly) spec. the standard or normal tuning. Cf. scordatura...
11. † accrescimento, n. View full entry 1740
...The increasing of the length of a note by one half, indicated in transcription by a following dot. Cf. augmentation8....
12. acephalous, adj. View full entry 1715
...Having or recognizing no ruler, head, or chief; = headless2....
13. actionist, n. View full entry 1720
...A shareholder. Cf. action9. Obs....
14. Addisonian, adj.1 View full entry 1789
...Of, relating to, or characteristic of Joseph Addison, his works, esp. periodical literature, or his elegant and equable literary style....
15. ad lib, adv., adj., and n. View full entry 1769
...Music. Used to indicate that the part given to a particular instrument or instruments is optional....
16. a due, adv. View full entry 1740
...For two voices or instruments; (now usually) spec. together; in unison....
17. Aeolus, n. View full entry a1748
...= Aeolian harpAeolian....
18. aerate, v. View full entry 1784
...trans....
19. aerialist, n. View full entry 1778
...An excessively bookish or intellectual person. Obs.nonce-use....
20. Aeschylean, adj. View full entry 1783
...Of, relating to, or characteristic of Aeschylus, the Athenian tragic poet, or his works, style, etc....
