Mordent
/ˈmɔːdənt/noun
A musical ornament in which a note is rapidly alternated with a neighboring note.
Did you know?The name comes from Latin mordēre, “to bite,” the same root behind words such as “remorse” and “morsel.”
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
mordēre
“to bite”
Late Latin
Latin
mordēns
“biting; sharp or biting”
16th Century
Italian
mordente
“a musical ornament involving a rapid alternation of notes”
17th Century
French
mordant
“biting; a mordent-like musical ornament”
18th Century
German
Mordent
“a musical ornament”
18th Century
English
mordent
“a rapid musical turn or ornament”
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