organum
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or·ga·num 1
(ôr′gə-nəm)n. pl. or·ga·na (-nə) or or·ga·nums
Any of several types of medieval vocal polyphony, usually based on Gregorian chant.
[Medieval Latin, from Late Latin, church organ, from Latin, instrument; see organ.]
or·ga·num 2
(ôr′gə-nəm)n. pl. or·ga·nums
Variant of organon.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
organum
(ˈɔːɡənəm)n, pl -na (-nə) or -nums
1. (Music, other) a form of polyphonic music originating in the ninth century, consisting of a plainsong melody with parts added at the fourth and fifth
2. (Logic) a variant of organon
[C17: via Latin from Greek; see organ]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
or•ga•num
(ˈɔr gə nəm)n., pl. -na (-nə), -nums.
1. organon.
2. medieval polyphony in which a cantus firmus is accompanied by lines in parallel motion at the interval of a fourth, fifth, or octave above or below.
[1605–15; < Latin; see organ]
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