Word Study
sostenuto
CIDE DICTIONARY
sostenuto, a. [It.].
Sustained; -- applied to a movement or passage the sounds of which are to sustained to the utmost of the nominal value of the time; also, to a passage the tones of which are to be somewhat prolonged or protacted. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
sostenuto, adv., adj., & n. Mus.
--adv. & adj. in a sustained or prolonged manner.
--n. (pl. -os) a passage to be played in this way.
--adv. & adj. in a sustained or prolonged manner.
--n. (pl. -os) a passage to be played in this way.
Etymology
It., past part. of sostenere SUSTAIN
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