Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adverb & adjective In a loud, then suddenly soft, manner. Used chiefly as a direction.
from The Century Dictionary.
- In music, characterized by sudden but transient emphasis; loud, then immediately soft; sforzato. Abbreviated fp.
- noun The original name of the pianoforte (which see).
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word forte-piano.
Examples
-
Among the list of Professor Chua's "don'ts" during the rearing of her own children was allowing them to attend sleepovers; to get grades beneath an "A"; and to play any instrument other than the violin or piano no exclusion for the viola or forte-piano.
Mark Steinberg: Chua, Baby Mark Steinberg 2011
-
Among the list of Professor Chua's "don'ts" during the rearing of her own children was allowing them to attend sleepovers; to get grades beneath an "A"; and to play any instrument other than the violin or piano no exclusion for the viola or forte-piano.
Mark Steinberg: Chua, Baby Mark Steinberg 2011
-
Philadelphia, who "has invented one of the prettiest improvements in the forte-piano I have ever seen."
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 117, July, 1867. Various
-
You should say _forte-piano, _ not _piano-forte_: and the
The Laws of Etiquette Unknown
-
The next name given to it was _forte-piano_, which signified soft, with power; and this name became _piano-forte_, which it still retains.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 117, July, 1867. Various
-
He has here at home a harpsichord, forte-piano, harmonica, guitar, violin, and German flutes, and at Williamsburg, he has a good pipe organ.
Colonial Children 1902
-
Thus he wrote to Artaria in 1788: "I was obliged to buy a new forte-piano, that I might compose your clavier sonatas particularly well."
Chopin and Other Musical Essays Henry Theophilus Finck 1890
-
His instrument was called _forte-piano_ or _pianoforte_, because it would strike loud or soft.
Critical and Historical Essays Lectures delivered at Columbia University Edward MacDowell 1884
-
She promised to give you now and then a lesson on the forte-piano; is she as good as her word?
Memoirs of Aaron Burr Davis, Matthew L 1836
-
She must either have a forte-piano at home, or renounce learning it.
Memoirs of Aaron Burr Davis, Matthew L 1836
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.