ritenuto

R1I1T1E1N1U1T1O1

adjective

(of a passage in a musical score) immediately slower, held back at a slower rate of pace.

Similar
rallentandoritardandorit.decreasing
OriginItalian ritenuto →
Scrabble 8
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Meanings

adjectiveritenuto (not comparable)
  1. not comparableentertainment(of a passage in a musical score) immediately slower, held back at a slower rate of pace.
nounritenuto (plural ritenutos)

plural ritenutos

  1. A musical passage of this kind.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjective(music) gradually decreasing in tempo

Similar
rallentandoritardandorit.decreasing
Also see
decreasingrallentandoritardando

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Italianritenuto
  2. Englishritenuto

From Italian ritenuto. Doublet of retinue.

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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