Leitmotiv

3 definitions found

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

  Leading \Lead"ing\, a.
     Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading
     motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- {Lead"ing*ly},
     adv.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     {Leading case} (Law), a reported decision which has come to
        be regarded as settling the law of the question involved.
        --Abbott.
  
     {Leading motive} [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a
        guiding theme; in the musical drama of Wagner, a marked
        melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies
        the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract
        idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of
        musical label. Also called {leitmotif} or {leitmotiv}.
  
     {Leading note} (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the
        ascending major scale; the sensible note.
  
     {Leading question}, a question so framed as to guide the
        person questioned in making his reply.
  
     {Leading strings}, strings by which children are supported
        when beginning to walk.
  
     {To be in leading strings}, to be in a state of infancy or
        dependence, or under the guidance of others.
  
     {Leading wheel}, a wheel situated before the driving wheels
        of a locomotive engine.
        [1913 Webster]

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

  Leitmotif \Leit"mo*tif"\, Leitmotiv
  \Leit"mo*tiv"\(l[imac]t"m[-o]*t[-e]f"), n. [G., leading motive.]
     1. (Mus.) a guiding theme; in Wagnerian opera, a marked
        melodic phrase or short musical passage which always
        accompanies the reappearance of a certain person,
        situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the
        play; a sort of musical label. Also called {Leading
        motive}.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     2. a recurring theme in the activities of a person or group.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  leitmotiv
       n : a melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a
           person or situation (as in Wagner's operas) [syn: {leitmotif}]