plagal

P3L1A1G2A1L1
/ˈpleɪɡəl/

adjective

Designating a mode lying a perfect fourth below the authentic form.

Opposite
authentic
OriginLate Latin plagalis ← Ancient Greek πλάγιος →
Scrabble 9
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Meanings

adjectiveplagal (comparative more plagal, superlative most plagal)

comparative more plagal · superlative most plagal

  1. entertainmentDesignating a mode lying a perfect fourth below the authentic form.

    […] [Carol] King uses the plagal coda as affirmation in “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, the 1967 anthem to liberated female sexuality that King co-wrote with [Gerry] Goffin for Aretha Franklin.

    2025 December 6, Helen Barrett, “Tapesty of talent”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 8
  2. entertainmentDesignating a cadence in which the subdominant chord precedes the tonic.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
authentic

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekπλάγιος“plagal”
  2. Late Latinplagalis
  3. Englishplagal

From Late Latin plagalis, from plaga, from plagius, from Byzantine Ancient Greek πλάγιος (plágios, “plagal”), πλάγιος (plágios, “oblique”).

More words from Late Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with plagal

vagalfinagleinveigletragal
All rhymes →

Anagrams

galpal
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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