harmonist
noun
a person skilled in harmony.
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harmonist
1 American
[hahr-muh-nist]
/ ˈhɑr mə nɪst /
Harmonist
2
American
[hahr-muh-nist]
/ ˈhɑr mə nɪst /
Or
Harmonite
noun
harmonist
British
/ ˈhɑːmənɪst /
noun
-
a person skilled in the art and techniques of harmony
-
a person who combines and collates parallel narratives
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of harmonist1
First recorded in 1560–70; harmon(y) + -ist
Origin of Harmonist2
1815–25; after Harmony, town in Pennsylvania; see -ist
Explanation
A harmonist is someone who's very good at blending different voices or instruments into music that sounds pleasant. To be a successful composer, you have to be a great harmonist. Harmonists are skilled at harmonies, creating music from separate strands that go well together. Another kind of harmonist does a similar thing with literature or religious texts, interpreting different passages in a way that melds their meanings or finds agreement between them. Historically, Christian harmonists also brought harmony to the Bible by trying to arrange its parts in chronological order. The Greek root of harmonist is harmonia, "concord of sound."
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.
See Examples For:
Mr. Jobim once called him “a great melodist, harmonist, king of rhythm, of syncopation, of swing” and “singular, without equal.”
From New York Times ● Dec. 23, 2023
Above all, Mr. Sondheim said, he is a harmonist whose songs are inspired by theatrical characters.
From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 2015
Throughout the vibrant Scherzo, the plaintive Adagio and the episodic and ultimately exuberant finale, Mr. Gilbert brought out musical resonances that linked Rachmaninoff as a harmonist to Debussy, Mahler and even early Schoenberg.
From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2010
It is highly significant that the account of the most indubitable fact in the view of the early Christians is the most difficult portion of the gospels for the exact harmonist to deal with.
From The Life of Jesus of Nazareth by Rush Rhees
"The towering headlands, crown'd with mist, Their feet among the billows, know That Ocean is a mighty harmonist."
From Shakespeare: His Life, Art, And Characters, Volume I. With An Historical Sketch Of The Origin And Growth Of The Drama In England by Henry Norman Hudson
The Harmonist is known for its highly customized scents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2019
New luxury French perfume house the Harmonist is touting that belief with a collection of 10 unisex fragrances by perfumer Guillaume Flavigny, inspired by the ancient Chinese principles of feng shui.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2016
Over the course of the next three years Van Aken will graft varieties of fruit from the Harmonist community days for a total of 40 fruits.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 8, 2016
Huffman sent some of his letters to his brother-in-law, John Burns White, who was married to Huffman’s sister, Ellie, and was the business agent for the Harmonist Society in Beaver County.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 7, 2015
While writing, I hear good music by well-trained voices, with the Harmonist accompaniment.
From History of American Socialisms by John Humphrey Noyes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
