diesis

American  

[dahy-uh-sis] / ˈdaɪ ə sɪs /

noun

Printing.

plural

dieses

1. double dagger.

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diesis British  

/ ˈdaɪɪsɪs /

noun

1. 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 )

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Etymology

Origin of diesis

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

Example Sentences

If, therefore, the octaves are to remain perfect, which they must do, each major third must be tuned sharper than perfect by one-third part of the diesis.

From Piano Tuning A Simple and Accurate Method for Amateurs by Fischer, J. Cree (Jerry Cree)

They still went to see Otello at the Théâtre-Italien, but that was to hear Tamberlick’s C diesis.

From Musical Memories by Rich, Edwin Gile

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

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio