diapason
/daɪəˈpeɪzən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.84 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The musical octave.
noun
The range or scope of something, especially of notes in a scale, or of a particular musical instrument.
Literary
noun
A tonal grouping of the flue pipes of a pipe organ.
noun
One of the lowest strings on an archlute, theorbo, chitarrone, or similar bass lute-family instrument, usually unfrettable.
noun
A harmonious outpouring of sound.
Example Sentences
- "2 to 1, which is a duple ratio, forms the [symphony] diapason"
- "The glories and the beauties of form, color, and sound unite in the Grand Canyon—forms unrivaled even by the mountains, colors that vie with sunsets, and sounds that span the diapason from tempest to tinkling raindrop, from cataract to bubbling fountain."
- "the piano curving like a conch, corollas giving out diapasons of light […]"
- "That we on Earth with undiscording voice May rightly answer that melodious noise; As once we did, till disproportion'd sin Jarr'd against natures chime, and with harsh din Broke the fair musick that all creatures made To their great Lord, whose love their motion sway'd In perfect Diapason, whilst they stood In first obedience, and their state of good."
- "he could hear nothing except the rattle of the crickets and the swelling diapason of the frogs […]"
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin diapason, from Ancient Greek διαπασῶν (diapasôn), that is διά (diá, “through”) + πασῶν (pasôn, “all”) (χορδῶν (khordôn, “notes”)), “through all (notes)”.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: diapason, διαπασῶν