appoggiatura

Definition

A type of musical ornament, falling on the beat, which often creates a suspension and subtracts for itself half the time value of the principal note which follows.

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian appoggiatura, derived from appoggiare (“to lean”).

Example Sentences

• "The following Adagietto was like a long, melting appoggiatura composed of smaller dying falls and languid resolutions."