diesis

[ dahy-uh-sis ]

noun

, Printing.

, plural di·e·ses [dahy, -, uh, -seez].

1. double dagger.

diesis

/ ˈdaɪɪsɪs /

noun

1. See double dagger
   printing another name for double dagger
2. music
   1. (in ancient Greek theory) any interval smaller than a whole tone, esp a semitone in the Pythagorean scale
   2. (in modern theory) the discrepancy of pitch in just intonation between an octave and either a succession of four ascending minor thirds ( great diesis ), or a succession of three ascending major thirds ( minor diesis )

Word History and Origins

Origin of diesis¹

1350–1400; originally, any of several musical intervals smaller than a tone (for which a double dagger was used as a symbol); Middle English < Latin di ( h ) esis < Greek díesis literally, a sending through, equivalent to die-, base of diïénai to send through ( di- di- ³ + hiénai to send) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of diesis¹

C16: via Latin from Greek: a quarter tone, literally: a sending through, from diienai; the double dagger was originally used in musical notation

Example Sentences

A diesis is a quarter tone; hence in a semitone there are included two dieses.

From Project Gutenberg

The ratio which expresses the value of the diesis is that of 128 to 125.

From Project Gutenberg