[T]he harpſichord is an improvement of the Clavicitherium, an inſtrument known in England in Gower's time by the name of the Citole, from Cistella, a little cheſt.
Source: wiktionary
Clavicytherium
//ˌklæv.ə.saɪˈθɪə.ɹɪ.əm//
Synonyms for "clavicytherium" (9 found)
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Closest matches (2)
Strong matches (3)
Related words (4)
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
Related terms
5 entrieshas context
1 entriesrelated to
9 entriesTranslations
18 translations across 10 languages.
Danish
2 entries- clavicyterium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
- clavicytherium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
Dutch
1 entries- clavicytherium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
Esperanto
1 entries- klavocitro noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
French
2 entries- clavecin verticale noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
- clavicythérium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
Galician
1 entries- claveciterio noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
German
4 entries- Claviciterium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
- Clavicytherium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
- Klavicitherium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
- Klaviziterium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
Italian
2 entries- cembalo verticale noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
- clavicytherium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
Latin
1 entries- clavicytherium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
Polish
2 entries- claviciterium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
- klawicyterium noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
Spanish
1 entries- claveciterio noun (harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player)
Sample sentences
7 total sentences available.
When we consider the state of imperfection in which all keyed instruments, the organ excepted, remained till within these few years past, we can scarcely bring ourselves to believe tha instruments analogous to them were in use as far back as 1530. Yet such was the case: four instruments of this kind were then employed, the compass of which was three octaves and a half. They were—1st, the Clavicitherium, which was mounted with catgut-strings, and sounded by means of a jack put in motion by the touch: […]
Source: wiktionary
The first stringed instrument to which the key-board was applied, was probably the clavicytherium, or keyed-cithara. In its early stage, it was a small oblong box, with the strings arranged in the form of a half-triangle. The strings, which were of catgut, were sounded by means of quill-plectra, attached in a rude way to the ends of the keys.
Source: wiktionary
[W]e find indications of a keyed instrument after the year 1300, called the Clavicytherium, or keyed cithara. The invention of keys permitted the strings to be covered over, and therefore the strings of the clavicytherium were enclosed in a box, instead of being stretched on a box. […] The clavicytherium was usually a very small instrument,—an oblong box, three or four feet in length, that could be lifted by a girl of fourteen. The clavichord and manichord, which we read of in [Wolfgang Amadeus] Mozart's letters, were only improved and better-made clavicytheria.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.