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arpeggio

 - 3 dictionary results

ar⋅peg⋅gi⋅o

  [ahr-pej-ee-oh, -pej-oh]
Use arpeggio in a Sentence
–noun, plural -gi⋅os. Music.
1. the sounding of the notes of a chord in rapid succession instead of simultaneously.
2. a chord thus sounded.
Also called broken chord.

Origin:
1735–45; < It: lit., a harping, n. deriv. of arpeggi(are) to play on the harp (< Gmc; cf. OE hearpi(g)an to harp)

Related forms:
ar⋅peg⋅gi⋅at⋅ed, ar⋅peg⋅gi⋅oed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ar·peg·gi·o   (är-pěj'ē-ō', -pěj'ō)   
n.   pl. ar·peg·gi·os

  1. The sounding of the tones of a chord in rapid succession rather than simultaneously.

  2. A chord played or sung in this manner.


[Italian, from arpeggiare, to play the harp, from arpa, harp, of Germanic origin; see harp.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

arpeggio 
1742, from It., from arpeggiare "to play upon the harp," from arpa "harp."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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