sordino

[ sawr-dee-noh; Italian sawr-dee-naw ]

noun

, Music.

, plural sor·di·ni [sawr-, dee, -nee, saw, r, -, dee, -nee].

1. mute ( def 10 ).

sordino

/ sɔːˈdiːnəʊ /

noun

1. a mute for a stringed or brass musical instrument
2. any of the dampers that arrest the vibrations of piano strings
3. con sordino or con sordini
   a musical direction to play with a mute
4. senza sordino or senza sordini
   a musical direction to remove or play without the mute or (on the piano) with the sustaining pedal pressed down

Word History and Origins

Origin of sordino¹

1795–1805; < Italian: a mute, equivalent to sordo (< Latin surdus deaf ) + -ino -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sordino¹

Italian: from sordo deaf, from Latin surdus

Example Sentences

A sordino, or pochette, by "Baptista Bressano," supposed to date from the end of the fifteenth century.

From Project Gutenberg

Another modification of tone is caused by placing a tiny instrument called a sordino, or mute, upon the bridge.

From Project Gutenberg

Con sordino and pizzicato passages occur as often for the cello as for the violin.

From Project Gutenberg

A sordino, or boat-shaped pochette; English, seventeenth century.

From Project Gutenberg

He was using a sordino and playing it very softly; but I was not mistaken.

From Project Gutenberg