pianoforte
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of pianoforte
1760–70; < Italian ( gravecembalo col ) piano e forte literally, (harpsicord with) soft and loud, equivalent to piano soft ( see piano 2) + forte loud ( see forte 2)
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.
"I have played blindman's-buff and caught the corner of a particularly hard pianoforte with my forehead."
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2021
So the melodies remained intact, even when the arrangements became "lower and darker", as on the pianoforte rework of Never Gonna Give You Up.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2019
A pianoforte, mandolin and clarinet, as well as a mah-jongg game, seem to await players.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 5, 2018
An accompanying pianoforte keeps frenetic pace with the singers.
From New York Times ● Aug. 12, 2016
“How I long to see her again! I never met with anybody who delighted me so much. Such a countenance, such manners!—and so extremely accomplished for her age! Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite.”
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
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.
