tenuto

[ tuh-noo-toh; Italian te-noo-taw ]

adjective

1. Music. (of a note, chord, or rest) held to the full time value.

tenuto

/ tɪˈnjuːtəʊ /

adjective

1. music (of a note) to be held for or beyond its full time value written above a note

Word History and Origins

Origin of tenuto¹

1890–95; < Italian: held (past participle of tenere ) < Vulgar Latin *tenūtus, for Latin tentus

Word History and Origins

Origin of tenuto¹

from Italian, literally: held, from tenere to hold, from Latin tenēre

Example Sentences

His tone is all through his nose, and his tenuto is like the tremulant stop on the organ.

From Project Gutenberg

Tenuto—(from teneo, to hold)—a direction signifying that the tones are to be prolonged to the full value indicated by the notes.

From Project Gutenberg