pianoforte
UK[ˌpjænəʊˈfɔːteɪ]US[piˌænoʊˈfɔːrteɪ]
n
a large musical instrument with a keyboard, in which strings are struck by hammers when the keys are pressed.
Morpheme Breakdown
piano
forte
piano
soft
forte
loud
Etymology
the word 'pianoforte' is a direct loan from italian, where it is a compound of the adjectives 'piano' (soft) and 'forte' (loud). it was the original name for the instrument invented by bartolomeo cristofori around 1700, which he called 'gravicembalo col piano e forte' (harpsichord with soft and loud). this name was a direct marketing description of the instrument's revolutionary capability to produce notes at varying dynamic levels based on the force applied to the keys, unlike its predecessor the harpsichord. the term was later shortened to 'piano', which now refers to the instrument, while the full compound 'pianoforte' is retained for historical or formal contexts.
Analysis
Structure: piano (soft) + forte (loud)
- piano: from italian 'piano', meaning "soft, low", from latin 'planus' (flat, level). functions as an adjective describing a quiet dynamic.
- forte: from italian 'forte', meaning "strong, loud", from latin 'fortis' (strong). functions as an adjective describing a loud dynamic.
Examples
the museum displayed an original 18th-century pianoforte.
she specializes in performing classical sonatas on the pianoforte.
the full name, pianoforte, highlights the instrument's dynamic range.