mordent

or mor·dant

[ mawr-dnt ]

noun

, Music.

1. a melodic embellishment consisting of a rapid alternation of a principal tone with the tone a half or a whole step below it, called single or short when the auxiliary tone occurs once and double or long when this occurs twice or more.
2. inverted mordent.

mordent

/ ˈmɔːdənt /

noun

1. music a melodic ornament consisting of the rapid alternation of a note with a note one degree lower than it Also calledlower mordent

Word History and Origins

Origin of mordent¹

1800–10; < German < Italian mordente biting < Latin mordent-, stem of mordēns, present participle of mordēre to bite; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of mordent¹

C19: from German, from Italian mordente, from mordere to bite

Example Sentences

They may take a mordent pleasure in installing Dr Eilidh Whiteford - who, as a member of the previous committee, was at the centre of a memorable and nasty spat with the previous chair, Labour's Ian Davidson.

From BBC

The selection of the fingers for the execution of a mordent depends always upon the preceding notes or keys which lead up to it.

From Project Gutenberg

Mordent, fingers needed to play a, 28. accenting a, in a sonata, 70.

From Project Gutenberg

Fingers, position of, 6. the other, 16. fourth and fifth, 16. weak, 18. broad-tipped, 20. needed to play a mordent, 28.

From Project Gutenberg

Sonata, accenting a mordent in a, 70. in playing a, 75.

From Project Gutenberg