ritenuto

[ ree-tuh-noo-toh; Italian ree-te-noo-taw ]

adverb

1. (of a passage in a musical score) immediately slower.

ritenuto

/ ˌrɪtəˈnuːtəʊ /

adjective

1. held back momentarily
2. another term for rallentando

Word History and Origins

Origin of ritenuto¹

1820–30; < Italian: literally, held back, past participle of ritenere; retain

Word History and Origins

Origin of ritenuto¹

C19: from Italian, from past participle of ritenere , from Latin retinēre to hold back