pianoforte Hear it!

pianoforte definition

pi·ano·forte (pē an′ō fôrt′, pē an′ō fôr′tā)

noun

piano

Etymology: It < piano e forte, lit., soft and loud: term used (c. 1710) by its inventor, B. Cristofori (1655-1731), of Padua < piano (see piano) + forte, loud, strong (< L fortis: see fort) from its gradation of tone in contrast with the harpsichord

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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