DIMENSIONS: DENOTATION / Quality
Espressivo, Expressive
R E F E R E N C E S
Expression That quality in a composition or performance which appeals to our feelings, taste or judgment displayed in rendering a composition and imparting to it the sentiment of the author. Expression marks are signs, words or phrases, written against the music to direct the performer in giving its proper expression.
[Elson, Louis C. Professor of Theory of Music at the New England Conservatory of Music. ElsonÍ's Music Dictionary. Boston: Oliver Ditson Co. MCMV.]
Expression 1. the act of expressing or setting forth in words. 2. a particular word or phrase. 3. the manner of form in which a thing is expressed in words; wording. 4. power of expressing in words: joy beyond expression. 5. indication of feeling, character, etc., as in the voice, or in artistic execution. 6. a look or intonation expressing personal reaction, feeling, etc. 7. the quality or power of expressing attitude, emotion, etc.: a face that lacks expression; to read with expressionl. 8. the act of expressing or representing, as by symbols. 9. Math. a symbol of a combination of symbols representing a value, relation, or the like. 10. the act of expressing or pressing out. [ME < L expressiõn- (s. of expressiõ) a pressing out] -Syn. 1. utterance, declaration, assertion, statement. 2. term, idiom. 3. language, diction, phraseology. 5. manifestation, sign. 6. aspect, air, countenance, mien, tone.
Expressive 1. serving to express; indicative of power to express; a look expressive of gratitude. 2. full of expression; meaningful; an expressive shrug. 3. of, pertaining to, or concerned with expression.
Express v.t. 1. to put [thought] into words; to express an ida clearly. 2. to show, manifest, or reveal. 3. to set forth the opinioins, feelings, etc. of [oneself]: He can express himself eloquently. 4. to represent by a symbol or formula. . . . . -Syn. 1. utter, declare, word, state. 2. indicate. 4. designate, signify, denote. 8. unambiguous. 9. particular. singular. 10. faithful, exact. 12. rapid, nonstop.
[Urdang, Laurence, ed. Random House Dictionary of The English Language. New York: Random House, 1968.]
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