Harmonies

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Harmony \Har"mo*ny\ (h[aum]r"m[-o]*n[y^]), n.; pl. {Harmonies}
     (-n[i^]z). [F. harmonie, L. harmonia, Gr. "armoni`a joint,
     proportion, concord, fr. "armo`s a fitting or joining. See
     {Article}.]
     1. The just adaptation of parts to each other, in any system
        or combination of things, or in things intended to form a


        connected whole; such an agreement between the different
        parts of a design or composition as to produce unity of
        effect; as, the harmony of the universe.
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     2. Concord or agreement in facts, opinions, manners,
        interests, etc.; good correspondence; peace and
        friendship; as, good citizens live in harmony.
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     3. A literary work which brings together or arranges
        systematically parallel passages of historians respecting
        the same events, and shows their agreement or consistency;
        as, a harmony of the Gospels.
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     4. (Mus.)
        (a) A succession of chords according to the rules of
            progression and modulation.
        (b) The science which treats of their construction and
            progression.
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                  Ten thousand harps, that tuned
                  Angelic harmonies.                --Milton.
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     5. (Anat.) See {Harmonic suture}, under {Harmonic}.
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     {Close harmony}, {Dispersed harmony}, etc. See under {Close},
        {Dispersed}, etc.
  
     {Harmony of the spheres}. See {Music of the spheres}, under
        {Music}.
  
     Syn: {Harmony}, {Melody}.
  
     Usage: Harmony results from the concord of two or more
            strains or sounds which differ in pitch and quality.
            Melody denotes the pleasing alternation and variety of
            musical and measured sounds, as they succeed each
            other in a single verse or strain.
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