partimento

noun

par·​ti·​men·​to
ˌpärtəˈmen‧ˌtō
plural partimenti
-ˌtē
: a musical exercise in contrapuntal improvisation of the 17th and 18th centuries, generally played or written on a figured bass

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, division, from partire to divide, go away (from Latin partire, partiri to divide) + -mento -ment (from Latin -mentum)

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near partimento

Cite this Entry

“Partimento.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partimento. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!