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Counterpoint
Definitions
- 1 A melody added to an existing one, especially one added to provide harmony whilst each retains its simultaneous identity; a composition consisting of such contrapuntal melodies. countable, uncountable
"I noticed […] that when a very cheesy synthesized violin sound plays in counterpoint with a real violin, it can quite convincingly seem as if two violins are playing."
- 2 Obsolete form of counterpane. alt-of, obsolete
- 3 a musical form involving the simultaneous sound of two or more melodies wordnet
- 4 Any similar contrasting element in a work of art. countable, uncountable
"As counterpoints to the glamorous looks of 1980s models such as Chistie Brinkley and Heidi Klum, heroin chic looks such as Kate Moss were thin to the point of anorectic gauntness."
- 5 An opposite point. countable, uncountable
"[…] Priests; who affecting in them selves and their followers a certein Angelical puritie, fell sodainly to the very counterpoint of justifying bestialitie."
- 1 To compose or arrange such music. transitive
- 2 write in counterpoint wordnet
- 3 To serve as an opposing point against. transitive
"[…] the dominant discourse on theory and method in the study of religions remains stuck on the debate about reductionism, which is in turn bent on representing the debate about theory and method in the study of religions as a choice between an unscientific phenomenology or an unsympathetic positivism (for phenomenology the idea that explanation is always 'bad' is perfectly counterpointed by the idea that religion is always 'good')."
- 4 to show differences when compared; be different wordnet
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English [Term?], from Middle French contrepoint, from Medieval Latin contrāpūnctum. Equivalent to counter- + point.
Inherited from Middle English [Term?], from Middle French contrepoint, from Medieval Latin contrāpūnctum. Equivalent to counter- + point.
From Old French contrepointe, a corruption of coultepointe, from Latin culcita puncta, i.e. a stitched pillow or cover. See quilt.
See also for "counterpoint"
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