Equal temperament

Equal temperament
Temperament Tem"per*a*ment, n. [L. temperamentum a mixing in due proportion, proper measure, temperament: cf. F. temp['e]rament. See {Temper}, v. t.] 1. Internal constitution; state with respect to the relative proportion of different qualities, or constituent parts. [1913 Webster]

The common law . . . has reduced the kingdom to its just state and temperament. --Sir M. Hale. [1913 Webster]

2. Due mixture of qualities; a condition brought about by mutual compromises or concessions. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

However, I forejudge not any probable expedient, any temperament that can be found in things of this nature, so disputable on their side. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. The act of tempering or modifying; adjustment, as of clashing rules, interests, passions, or the like; also, the means by which such adjustment is effected. [1913 Webster]

Wholesome temperaments of the rashness of popular assemblies. --Sir J. Mackintosh. [1913 Webster]

4. Condition with regard to heat or cold; temperature. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Bodies are denominated ``hot'' and ``cold'' in proportion to the present temperament of that part of our body to which they are applied. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mus.) A system of compromises in the tuning of organs, pianofortes, and the like, whereby the tones generated with the vibrations of a ground tone are mutually modified and in part canceled, until their number reduced to the actual practicable scale of twelve tones to the octave. This scale, although in so far artificial, is yet closely suggestive of its origin in nature, and this system of tuning, although not mathematically true, yet satisfies the ear, while it has the convenience that the same twelve fixed tones answer for every key or scale, C[sharp] becoming identical with D[flat], and so on. [1913 Webster]

6. (Physiol.) The peculiar physical and mental character of an individual, in olden times erroneously supposed to be due to individual variation in the relations and proportions of the constituent parts of the body, especially of the fluids, as the bile, blood, lymph, etc. Hence the phrases, bilious or choleric temperament, sanguine temperament, etc., implying a predominance of one of these fluids and a corresponding influence on the temperament. [1913 Webster]

{Equal temperament} (Mus.), that in which the variations from mathematically true pitch are distributed among all the keys alike.

{Unequal temperament} (Mus.), that in which the variations are thrown into the keys least used. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Equal temperament — is a musical temperament, or a system of tuning in which every pair of adjacent notes has an identical frequency ratio. In equal temperament tunings an interval mdash; usually the octave mdash; is divided into a series of equal steps (equal… …   Wikipedia

  • Equal temperament — Equal E qual, a. [L. aequalis, fr. aequus even, equal; akin to Skr. ?ka, and perh. to L. unus for older oinos one, E. one.] 1. Agreeing in quantity, size, quality, degree, value, etc.; having the same magnitude, the same value, the same degree,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • equal temperament — Music. the division of an octave into 12 equal semitones, as in the tuning of a piano. * * * ▪ music       in music, a tuning system in which the octave is divided into 12 semitones of equal size. Because it enables keyboard instruments (keyboard …   Universalium

  • equal temperament — noun the division of the scale based on an octave that is divided into twelve exactly equal semitones equal temperament is the system commonly used in keyboard instruments • Hypernyms: ↑temperament …   Useful english dictionary

  • 19 equal temperament — In music, 19 equal temperament, called 19 TET, 19 EDO, or 19 ET, is the tempered scale derived by dividing the octave into 19 equally large steps. Each step represents a frequency ratio of 21/19, or 63.16 cents. Because 19 is a prime number, one… …   Wikipedia

  • 53 equal temperament — In music, 53 equal temperament, called 53 TET, 53 EDO, or 53 ET, is the tempered scale derived by dividing the octave into fifty three equally large steps. Each step represents a frequency ratio of 21/53, or 22.6415 cents, an interval sometimes… …   Wikipedia

  • 31 equal temperament — In music, 31 equal temperament, which can be abbreviated 31 tET, 31 EDO, 31 ET, is the tempered scale derived by dividing the octave into 31 equal sized steps. Each step represents a frequency ratio of 21/31, or 38.71 cents.Division of the octave …   Wikipedia

  • 72 equal temperament — In music, 72 equal temperament, called twelfth tone, 72 tet, 72 edo, or 72 et, is the tempered scale derived by dividing the octave into twelfth tones, or in other words 72 equally large steps. Each step represents a frequency ratio of 21/72, or… …   Wikipedia

  • 22 equal temperament — In music, 22 equal temperament, called 22 tet, 22 edo, or 22 et, is the tempered scale derived by dividing the octave into 22 equally large steps. Each step represents a frequency ratio of 21/22, or 54.55 cents.The idea of dividing the octave… …   Wikipedia

  • 34 equal temperament — In musical theory, 34 equal temperament, also referred to as 34 tet, 34 edo or 34 et, is the tempered tuning derived by dividing the octave into 34 equal sized steps. Each step represents a frequency ratio of 21/34, or 35.29 cents.Unlike… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”