Etymology of composition by etymonline

1724, "musical composition for three solo parts," via French trio (c. 1600) or directly from Italian trio, from tri- "three" (see three); patterned on duo.

Etymology of substance by etymonline

1300, substaunce, "divine part or essence" common to the persons of the Trinity;" mid-14c. ... Latin substantia translates Greek ousia "that which ...

Etymology of device by etymonline

in English, from Old French, via the notion of "to arrange a division." As a noun, "act of bequeathing by will" (1540s), also "a will or ...

Etymology of sentence by etymonline

c. 1200, "doctrine, authoritative teaching; an authoritative pronouncement," from Old French sentence "judgment, decision; meaning; aphorism, maxim; statement ...

Etymology of style by etymonline

early 14c., stile, "writing instrument, pen, stylus; piece of written discourse, a narrative, treatise;" also "characteristic rhetorical mode of an author.

lead | Etymology of lead by etymonline

Meaning "the front or leading place" is from 1560s. Johnson stigmatized it as "a low, despicable word." Sense in card-playing, "action or ...

Etymology of subtle by etymonline

According to Watkins, the notion is of the "thread passing under the warp" as the finest thread. The English word has been partially re- ...

Etymology of tonal by etymonline

and directly from Latin tonus "a sound, tone, accent," literally "stretching" (in Medieval Latin, a term peculiar to music). This is from Greek ...

Etymology of Almagest by etymonline

"the" + Greek megiste "the greatest (composition)," from fem. of megistos, superlative of… See origin and meaning of almagest.

Etymology of concerto by etymonline

"composition for two or more solo instruments, or one principal instrument accompanied by a large or small orchestra," 1730, from Italian ...

Etymology of intensify by etymonline

Sense of "have as a plan, have in mind or purpose" (late 14c.) was present in Latin. A Germanic word for this was ettle, from Old Norse ætla "to ...

Etymology of toccata by etymonline

"to touch," from Vulgar Latin *toccare (see touch (v.)). "A composition for a keyboard… See origin and meaning of toccata.

Etymology of accompaniment by etymonline

"something that attends another as a circumstance," 1731 as a term in heraldry, from French accompagnement (13c.), from accompagner (see ...

Etymology of close by etymonline

Intransitive meaning "draw together, come together" is from 1550s, hence the idea in military verbal phrase close ranks (mid-17c.), later with ...

Etymology of instrumental by etymonline

Meaning "serviceable, useful" is from c. 1600. Of music, c. 1500; noun meaning "musical composition for instruments only" is attested by 1940.

Etymology of romantic by etymonline

1650s, "of the nature of a literary romance, partaking of the heroic or marvelous," from French romantique "pertaining to romance," from romant "a romance."

Etymology of appliance by etymonline

1560s, "action of putting into use," from apply + -ance. The meaning "instrument, thing applied for a purpose" is from 1590s.

Etymology of structure by etymonline

It is attested from 1610s as "arrangement of parts," also "the frame or character of an organization." By late 17c. it was used in the broadest ...

Etymology of decomposition by etymonline

Meaning "art of constructing sentences" is from 1550s; that of "literary production, that which results from composing" (often also "writing ...

Etymology of fiction by etymonline

A writer of fiction could be a fictionist (1827). The related Latin words included the literal notion "worked by hand," as well as the ...