sostenente

noun

so·​ste·​nen·​te

¦sō-stə-¦nen-tē,

-(ˌ)tā

variants or sostinente

plural sostenentes or sostinentes

1

: a device on a piano for attaining a sostenuto effect

2

: sostinente pianoforte

Word History

Etymology

sostenente alteration of sostinente; sostinente short for sostinente pianoforte

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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