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

And he tightened his arms round her, happy once more for a mordent in this environment of a perfect love.

From Project Gutenberg

When executing the mordent, is not the use of three fingers preferable to two?

From Project Gutenberg

The last note of the mordent should be accented in this case.

From Project Gutenberg

Running over the leaves he came to the illustrations of the mordent.

From Project Gutenberg

Canes timidi vehementius latrant quam mordent—Cowardly dogs bark more violently than they bite.

From Project Gutenberg