hemiola

[ hem-ee-oh-luh ]

nounMusic.
  1. a rhythmic pattern of syncopated beats with two beats in the time of three or three beats in the time of two.

Origin of hemiola

1
1590–1600; <Medieval Latin hēmiolia<Greek hēmiolía the ratio of one and a half to one, feminine of hēmiolíos half as large again, equivalent to hēmi-hemi- + (h)ól(os) whole + -ios adj. suffix

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British Dictionary definitions for hemiola

hemiola

hemiolia

/ (ˌhɛmɪˈəʊlə) /


noun
  1. music a rhythmic device involving the superimposition of, for example, two notes in the time of three: Also called: sesquialtera

Origin of hemiola

1
New Latin, from Greek hēmiolia ratio of one to one and a half, from hemi- + (h) olos whole

Derived forms of hemiola

  • hemiolic (ˌhɛmɪˈɒlɪk), adjective

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