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diesis

[ dahy-uh-sis ]

noun

, Printing.
, plural di·e·ses [dahy, -, uh, -seez].


diesis

/ ˈdaɪɪsɪs /

noun

  1. printing another name for double dagger
  2. music
    1. (in ancient Greek theory) any interval smaller than a whole tone, esp a semitone in the Pythagorean scale
    2. (in modern theory) the discrepancy of pitch in just intonation between an octave and either a succession of four ascending minor thirds ( great diesis ), or a succession of three ascending major thirds ( minor diesis )
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of diesis1

1350–1400; originally, any of several musical intervals smaller than a tone (for which a double dagger was used as a symbol); Middle English < Latin di ( h ) esis < Greek díesis literally, a sending through, equivalent to die-, base of diïénai to send through ( di- di- 3 + hiénai to send) + -sis -sis
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Word History and Origins

Origin of diesis1

C16: via Latin from Greek: a quarter tone, literally: a sending through, from diienai; the double dagger was originally used in musical notation
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Example Sentences

A diesis is a quarter tone; hence in a semitone there are included two dieses.

The ratio which expresses the value of the diesis is that of 128 to 125.

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Dies Iraedies non