forte (redirected from Forté)

for·te ¹  (fôrt, fôrt, frt)

n.

1. Something in which a person excels.

2. The strong part of a sword blade, between the middle and the hilt.

---

[French fort, from Old French, strong, from Latin fortis; see fort.]

Synonyms: forte¹, métier, specialty, thing
These nouns denote something at which a person is particularly skilled: Writing fiction is her forte. The theater is his métier. The professor's specialty was the study of ancient languages. Mountain climbing is really my thing.

Usage Note: The word forte, coming from French fort, should properly be pronounced with one syllable, like the English word fort. Common usage, however, prefers the two-syllable pronunciation, (fôrt), which has been influenced possibly by the music term forte borrowed from Italian. In a recent survey a strong majority of the Usage Panel, 74 percent, preferred the two-syllable pronunciation. The result is a delicate situation; speakers who are aware of the origin of the word may wish to continue to pronounce it as one syllable but at an increasing risk of puzzling their listeners.

---

for·te ²  (fôrt) Music

adv. & adj. Abbr. f

In a loud, forceful manner. Used chiefly as a direction.

n.

A note, passage, or chord played forte.

---

[Italian, strong, forte, from Latin fortis; see bhergh-² in Indo-European roots.]

---

forte¹

n

1. something at which a person excels; strong point cooking is my forte

2. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Fencing) Fencing the stronger section of a sword blade, between the hilt and the middle Compare foible

[from French fort, from fort (adj) strong, from Latin fortis]

---

forte² Music

adj & adv

(Music, other) loud or loudly. Symbol f

n

(Music, other) a loud passage in music

[from Italian, from Latin fortis strong]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	forte - an asset of special worth or utility; "cooking is his forte" metier, speciality, specialty, strong point, strong suit, long suit, strength asset, plus - a useful or valuable quality green fingers, green thumb - a special ability to make plants grow
	2.	forte - (music) loud fortissimo loudness, intensity, volume - the magnitude of sound (usually in a specified direction); "the kids played their music at full volume" music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
	3.	forte - the stronger part of a sword blade between the hilt and the foible part, portion - something less than the whole of a human artifact; "the rear part of the house"; "glue the two parts together" sword, steel, blade, brand - a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
Adj.	1.	forte - used chiefly as a direction or description in music; "the forte passages in the composition" loud piano, soft - used chiefly as a direction or description in music; "the piano passages in the composition"
Adv.	1.	forte - used as a direction in music; to be played relatively loudly loudly piano, softly - used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly

---

forte

noun speciality, strength, talent, strong point, métier, long suit (informal), gift Originality was never his forte.
failing, defect, shortcoming, imperfection, Achilles heel, weak point, chink in your armour

Translations

forte [ˈfɔːtɪ] (US) [fɔːt] N (= strong point) → fuerte m (Mus) → forte m

forte [ˈfɔː^rteɪ ˈfɔː^rti] n → (point m) fort m

forte¹

n (= strong point) → Stärke f, → starke Seite

---

forte² (Mus)

adv → laut, forte

adj (= played loudly) → laut or forte gespielt; (= sung loudly) → laut or forte gesungen

forte [ˈfɔːtɪ] n → forte m