Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for portative organ. Search instead for contractile organ.

portative organ

British  

noun

  1. music a small portable organ with arm-operated bellows popular in medieval times

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kahane conducted from an inaudible harpsichord and, in the middle section, a barely audible portative organ.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2016

Kent Tritle, who conducts three “Messiah” performances with two different choruses at Carnegie Hall next week, was a comforting presence at the portative organ; Philip Smith handled trumpet solos with blazing assurance.

From New York Times • Dec. 14, 2011

Mr. Koopman was his usual animated self, conducting from a portative organ and adding fillips to cadences: sometimes illuminating, sometimes weirdly perky.

From New York Times • Apr. 16, 2011

The orchestra, directed by James Richman, who played the portative organ, was generally excellent.

From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2011

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "portative organ" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com