harpsichord
UK[ˈhɑːp.sɪ.kɔːd]US[ˈhɑːrp.sɪ.kɔːrd]
n
a musical instrument similar to a piano, but with strings that are plucked rather than struck, used especially in the 16th to 18th centuries.
Morpheme Breakdown
harp
si
chord
harp
harp
si
of
chord
string
Etymology
the word 'harpsichord' is a compound formed from english elements to describe the instrument's nature. the first part, 'harp', references the general family of stringed instruments, while the connecting 'si' is a fossilized possessive form. the final element, 'chord', directly denotes the strings that produce the sound. thus, the name literally means "harp of strings," distinguishing it from other plucked instruments by emphasizing its keyboard mechanism that activates the strings. it entered english in the early 17th century, adapted from the obsolete french 'harpechorde' or italian 'arpicordo'.
Analysis
Structure: harp (harp) + si (of) + chord (string)
harp (from old english 'hearpe', meaning a stringed musical instrument, the harp); si (a reduced form of the genitive suffix 's', indicating possession or relation, from old english); chord (from latin 'chorda', meaning string, from greek 'khordē', meaning gut string).
Examples
the baroque suite was beautifully performed on a vintage harpsichord.
the sound of a harpsichord is more metallic and brittle than that of a modern piano.
bach composed many of his masterpieces specifically for the harpsichord.