- Harmonies
- Harmony Har"mo*ny (h[aum]r"m[-o]*n[y^]), n.; pl. {Harmonies}
(-n[i^]z). [F. harmonie, L. harmonia, Gr. "armoni`a joint,
proportion, concord, fr. "armo`s a fitting or joining. See
{Article}.]
1. The just adaptation of parts to each other, in any system
or combination of things, or in things intended to form a
connected whole; such an agreement between the different
parts of a design or composition as to produce unity of
effect; as, the harmony of the universe.
[1913 Webster]
2. Concord or agreement in facts, opinions, manners, interests, etc.; good correspondence; peace and friendship; as, good citizens live in harmony. [1913 Webster]
3. A literary work which brings together or arranges systematically parallel passages of historians respecting the same events, and shows their agreement or consistency; as, a harmony of the Gospels. [1913 Webster]
4. (Mus.) (a) A succession of chords according to the rules of progression and modulation. (b) The science which treats of their construction and progression. [1913 Webster]
Ten thousand harps, that tuned Angelic harmonies. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
5. (Anat.) See {Harmonic suture}, under {Harmonic}. [1913 Webster]
{Close harmony}, {Dispersed harmony}, etc. See under {Close}, {Dispersed}, etc.
{Harmony of the spheres}. See {Music of the spheres}, under {Music}.
Syn: {Harmony}, {Melody}.
Usage: Harmony results from the concord of two or more strains or sounds which differ in pitch and quality. Melody denotes the pleasing alternation and variety of musical and measured sounds, as they succeed each other in a single verse or strain. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
