Definition of fermata

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< Fermat, Pierre de

Fermat's last theorem >

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fermata
from Saint Matthew Passion (1729) by Johann Sebastian Bach

fer·ma·ta

r-mä

) KEY

NOUN:
Music

The prolongation of a tone, chord, or rest beyond its indicated time value.
The sign indicating this prolongation.

ETYMOLOGY:
Italian, from feminine past participle of fermare, to stop, from Latin firmre, to make firm, from firmus, firm; see dher- in Indo-European roots

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