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fermata

fermata


fer·ma·ta    Audio Help   (fěr-mä'tə)   

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.]
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