neume

Etymology

From 15th c. Middle English newme, nevme, neme; from Middle French neume, in turn from Medieval Latin neuma or pneuma, either from Ancient Greek πνεῦμα (pneûma, “breath”) or νεῦμα (neûma, “sign”), or else a corruption of πνεῦμα (pneûma, “breath”). Doublet of pneuma.

noun

  1. (music) Any of a set of signs used in early musical notation.
  2. (music) A sequence of notes to be sung to one syllable.

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