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The Musically Inclined Dictionary

Page history last edited by Leo Park 7 mos ago

 

THE MUSICALLY INCLINED DICTIONARY

 

This is a public dictionary dedicated to the enhancement of musical discourse. By contributing a word and its meaning to this dictionary, you are taking part in a movement devoted to creating a world of musically inclined beings through the ways in which music is spoken for and of.

 

Accentuate -- To give emphasis or prominence to.

Angular -- Stiff in character or manner.  Lacking smoothness or grace.  Lean and having prominent bone structure.

Ardent -- Expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic.

Austere -- Harsh and threatening in manner or appearance.

Authoritative -- Having authority, feeling the presence of authority, having the sanction or weight of the law.

Bittersweet-- Causing feelings of happiness and sadness at the same time.

Blissful -- Having great happiness.

Cliche -- Overly familiar or commonplace; over used; tired.

Declamatory -- Of, relating to, or marked by declamation or rhetorical display.

 

Didactic -- Designed or intended to teach.  Intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment.

Desolate -- Devoid of warmth, comfort, or hope

Dynamic -- When one singer or instument is capable of expressing in different volumes and octaves.

 

Embellish -- To heighten the attractiveness of by adding decorative or fanciful details.

 

Enigma/Enigmatic -- Obscure speech or writing.  Something hard to understand or explain.

Ethereal -- Light, airy, or tenuous: extremely delicate or refined.

Fiercely -- In a fierce or vehement manner.

Furious -- Marked by noise, excitement, activity, or rapidity.  Giving a stormy or turbulent appearance.

Harsh -- Causing a disagreeable or painful sensory reaction.

Indie -- One, such as a studio or producer, that is unaffiliated with a larger or more commercial organization.

Jarring -- To have a harshly disagreeable or disconcerting effect.

Largo -- At a fairly slow and broad tempo, more slowly than lento but faster than grave.

Legato-- Smooth and connected; without breaks between the successive tones.

Lilting -- Characterized by a rhythmical swing or cadence.

Maelstrom -- A powerful often violent whirlpool sucking in objects within a given radius.

Nasally -- To have a voice resembling the sounds of a nose.

Narcissistic -- Of an inordinate fascination with oneself.  Excessive self-love.  Vanity.

 

Nihilistic -- Of a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless.  Of a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths.

Passionate -- Showing strong emotion and feeling into the composition.

 

Penchant -- A strong and continued inclination.

Propulsive -- Tending or having power to propel.

Sashaying -- To strut or move about in an ostentatious or conspicuous manner.

Searing -- Marked by extreme intensity, harshness, or emotional power.

Simple / Simplicity -- Clear, easy to understand, not complex, sometimes childlike.

Textural -- Something composed of closely interwoven elements.

Transient -- Referring to tempo, a seemingly moving or changing speed.

Ubiquitous -- Existing or being everywhere at the same time.  Constantly encountered.

Urgent -- Showing earnestness or the desire for something to be done quickly.

Versatile -- Capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another.

Whimsical -- Lightly fanciful.  Subject to erratic behavior or unpredictable change.

 

Wry -- Having a bent or twisted shape or condition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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