forte-piano

[ fawr-tey-pee-ah-noh; Italian fawr-te-pyah-naw ]

adjective

, Music.

1. loud and immediately soft.

forte-piano

/ ˌfɔːtɪˈpjɑːnəʊ /

adjective

1. loud and then immediately soft fp

noun

1. a note played in this way

Word History and Origins

Origin of forte-piano¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

A person here has invented the prettiest improvement in the forte-piano I have ever seen.

From Project Gutenberg

His instrument was called forte-piano or pianoforte, because it would strike loud or soft.

From Project Gutenberg

And what think you of this new instrument—the forte-piano—father?

From Project Gutenberg