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diesis
[ dahy-uh-sis ]
diesis
/ ˈdaɪɪsɪs /
noun
- printing another name for double dagger
- music
- (in ancient Greek theory) any interval smaller than a whole tone, esp a semitone in the Pythagorean scale
- (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 )
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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.
From Project Gutenberg
The ratio which expresses the value of the diesis is that of 128 to 125.
From Project Gutenberg
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