arpeggiando
|ar-pe-ggi-an-do|
/arpeˈdʒando/
(arpeggiare)
like a harp / broken chord
Etymology
'arpeggiando' originates from Italian, specifically from the verb 'arpeggiare' and the noun 'arpeggio', ultimately related to 'arpa' meaning 'harp'.
'arpeggiando' developed in Italian from 'arpeggiare' (to play in the manner of a harp) and 'arpeggio' (a harp-like, broken-chord figure); these come from Italian 'arpa' (harp), which traces back through Latin and Greek terms for the harp.
Initially the roots referred specifically to the harp ('arp- / arpa'), i.e. 'in the manner of a harp'; over time it came to mean the general musical technique of playing a chord as a broken/arpeggiated chord.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present-participle/gerund form of the Italian verb 'arpeggiare': playing or causing to be played in the manner of an arpeggio.
She was arpeggiando the accompaniment to give the piece a harp-like texture.
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Adverb 1
as a musical direction: in an arpeggiated manner — play the notes of a chord in quick succession rather than simultaneously.
The score indicates arpeggiando over the chord, so the pianist rolled the notes rather than striking them together.
Synonyms
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Last updated: 2025/10/18 06:44