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fermata

 - 3 dictionary results

fer⋅ma⋅ta

  [fer-mah-tuh; It. fer-mah-tah]
Use fermata in a Sentence
–noun, plural -tas, Italian. -te  [-te] . Music.
1. the sustaining of a note, chord, or rest for a duration longer than the indicated time value, with the length of the extension at the performer's discretion.
2. a symbol placed over a note, chord, or rest indicating a fermata.
Origin:
1875–80; < It: stop, pause, n. use of fem. of ptp. of fermare to stop < L firmāre to make firm. See firm 1 , -ate 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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fer·ma·ta   (fěr-mä'tə)   


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n.   Music

  1. The prolongation of a tone, chord, or rest beyond its indicated time value.

  2. The sign indicating this prolongation.


[Italian, from feminine past participle of fermare, to stop, from Latin firmāre, to make firm, from firmus, firm; see dher- in Indo-European roots.]
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

fermata 
1876, musical term, from It., lit. "stop, pause," from fermare "to fasten, to stop," from fermo "strong, fastened," from L. firmus (see firm (adj.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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