mordent

mord·ent
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UK/ˈmɔːdn̩t/US/ˈmoɹd(ə)nt/

noun

An ornament consisting of a single rapid alternation between a given pitch and another pitch either a whole step or half step immediately above or below it.

OriginItalian mordente →
Scrabble 10
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Meanings

nounmordent (plural mordents)

plural mordents

  1. entertainmentAn ornament consisting of a single rapid alternation between a given pitch and another pitch either a whole step or half step immediately above or below it.

Origin

  1. Italianmordente
  2. Englishmordent

From Italian mordente. Doublet of mordant.

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans mordent
  • mordentornament
Finnish alahele, mordentti
  • alaheleornament
  • mordenttiornament
French mordant
  • mordantornament
German Mordent
  • Mordentornament
Japanese モルデント, 漣音
  • モルデント (morudento)ornament
  • 漣音 (ren'on)ornament
Polish mordent, zwrotnik
  • mordentornament
  • zwrotnikornament
Russian морде́нт
  • морде́нт (mordɛ́nt)ornament

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with mordent

discordantmordant
All rhymes →

Sounds the same

mordant
Cite this entry
APA

mordent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mordent

MLA

“mordent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mordent. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mordent,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mordent.

Source: mordent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.