sforzando definitions

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an accented chord
2: (music) a notation written above a note and indicating that it is to be played with a strong initial attack

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective or adverb Etymology: Italian, verbal of sforzare to force Date: circa 1801 played with prominent stress or accent — used as a direction in music II. noun (plural -dos or sforzandi) Date: 1890 an accented tone or chord

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj., adv., & n. (also sforzato) --adj. & adv. Mus. with sudden emphasis. --n. (pl. -os or sforzandi) 1 a note or group of notes especially emphasized. 2 an increase in emphasis and loudness. Etymology: It., verbal noun and past part. of sforzare use force

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sforzando Sfor*zan"do, Sforzato Sfor*za"to, a. [It. sforzando, p. pr., and sforzato, p. p. of sforzare to force.] (Mus.) Forcing or forced; -- a direction placed over a note, to signify that it must be executed with peculiar emphasis and force; -- marked fz (an abbreviation of forzando), sf, sfz, or ?.