leitmotif
/ˈlaɪt.moʊˌtif/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.04 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A melodic theme associated with a particular character, place, thing or idea in an opera.
Example Sentences
- "In Wagner's operas, especially his cycle of four operas known collectively as the Ring cycle, the leitmotif did not simply label or point to one particular character or object but rather conjured up a realm of ideas."
- "People have pointed out the influence of Wagner’s music on my work. Certainly I do not disclaim this influence. In particular, I followed Wagner in the use of the leitmotif, which I carried over into the work of language."
- "If one looks for a pattern in the political life of John Connally, one finds a leitmotif of scandals which threatened but never destroyed his career."
- "Mann's adaptation of Wagner's technique and its development throughout his writing is analysed, including how Mann uses the leitmotif in a naturalistic, characterising and mechanical sense in Buddenbrooks, attaching it to persons and situations as etiquettes."
- "Such language about an American president from a European ally would have been unthinkable before Mr. Trump made outrage the leitmotif of his presidency, along with an assault on truth."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈlaɪt.moʊˌtif/
- British English: /ˈlaɪt.məʊˌtiːf/