'Canto fermo' definitions:

Definition of 'Canto fermo'

From: GCIDE
  • Canto \Can"to\, n.; pl. Cantos. [It. canto, fr. L. cantus singing, song. See Chant.]
  • 1. One of the chief divisions of a long poem; a book. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Mus.) The highest vocal part; the air or melody in choral music; anciently the tenor, now the soprano. [1913 Webster]
  • Canto fermo[It.] (Mus.), the plain ecclesiastical chant in cathedral service; the plain song. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'canto fermo'

From: GCIDE
  • Plain \Plain\, a. [Compar. Plainer; superl. Plainest.] [F., level, flat, fr. L. planus, perhaps akin to E. floor. Cf. Llano, Piano, Plan, Plane level, a level surface.]
  • 1. Without elevations or depressions; flat; level; smooth; even. See Plane. [1913 Webster]
  • The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. --Isa. xl. 4. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Open; clear; unencumbered; equal; fair. [1913 Webster]
  • Our troops beat an army in plain fight. --Felton. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Not intricate or difficult; evident; manifest; obvious; clear; unmistakable. "'T is a plain case." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (a) Void of extraneous beauty or ornament; without conspicious embellishment; not rich; simple. (b) Not highly cultivated; unsophisticated; free from show or pretension; simple; natural; homely; common. "Plain yet pious Christians." --Hammond. "The plain people." --A. Lincoln. (c) Free from affectation or disguise; candid; sincere; artless; honest; frank. "An honest mind, and plain." --Shak. (d) Not luxurious; not highly seasoned; simple; as, plain food. (e) Without beauty; not handsome; homely; as, a plain woman. (f) Not variegated, dyed, or figured; as, plain muslin. (g) Not much varied by modulations; as, a plain tune. [1913 Webster]
  • Plain battle, open battle; pitched battle. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
  • Plain chant (Mus.) Same as Plain song, below.
  • Plain chart (Naut.), a chart laid down on Mercator's projection.
  • Plain dealer. (a) One who practices plain dealing. (b) A simpleton. [Obs.] --Shak.
  • Plain dealing. See under Dealing.
  • Plain molding (Join.), molding of which the surfaces are plain figures.
  • Plain sewing, sewing of seams by simple and common stitches, in distinct from fancy work, embroidery, etc.; -- distinguished also from designing and fitting garments.
  • Plain song. (a) The Gregorian chant, or canto fermo; the prescribed melody of the Roman Catholic service, sung in unison, in tones of equal length, and rarely extending beyond the compass of an octave. (b) A simple melody.
  • Plain speaking, plainness or bluntness of speech. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Level; flat; smooth; open; artless; unaffected; undisguised; frank; sincere; honest; candid; ingenuous; unembellished; downright; blunt; clear; simple; distinct; manifest; obvious; apparent. See Manifest. [1913 Webster]