sostenuto
[ sos-tuh-noo-toh, soh-stuh-; Italian saws-te-noo-taw ]
/ ˌsɒs təˈnu toʊ, ˌsoʊ stə-; Italian ˌsɔs tɛˈnu tɔ /
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adjective
sustained or prolonged in the time value of the tones.
noun, plural sos·te·nu·tos, Italian sos·te·nu·ti [saws-te-noo-tee]. /ˌsɔs tɛˈnu ti/.
a movement or passage played in this manner.
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Origin of sostenuto
1715–25; <Italian, past participle of sostenere;see sustain
Words nearby sostenuto
Sosa, sosatie, Soseki, Sosnowiec, so-so, sostenuto, sostenuto pedal, sot, Soter, soteriology, so that
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for sostenuto
British Dictionary definitions for sostenuto
sostenuto
/ (ˌsɒstəˈnuːtəʊ) /
adjective, adverb
music (preceded by a tempo marking) to be performed in a smooth sustained manner
Word Origin for sostenuto
C18: from Italian, from sostenere to sustain, from Latin sustinēre to uphold
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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