mezzo forte
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of mezzo forte
1805–15; < Italian: literally, half loud
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.
This was Nézet-Séguin the extrovert, who deploys the orchestra in the opera house like an instrument of fate, keeping the baseline volume at mezzo forte.
From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2022
And I said, ‘But, you know ...‘ And he said: ‘No buts. You end with mezzo forte, you’re basically telling the audience, the heck with you. You’re not bringing them somewhere by doing that.’
From New York Times ● Aug. 6, 2015
Mr. Gandolfi remembered that Bernstein had taken him to task for ending his piece mezzo forte, or moderately loud.
From New York Times ● Aug. 6, 2015
If the wood winds sound ragged, he stops the players, explains to the culprit that he has been playing piano instead of mezzo forte, achieves on the next try a precise, organlike tone.
From Time Magazine Archive
Moderate, mezzo forte crescendo, basses and then tenors intoned the first portentous words: "Who must file."
From Time Magazine Archive
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.
