fermata
noun
fer·ma·ta
fer-ˈmä-tə 
: a prolongation at the discretion of the performer of a musical note, chord, or rest beyond its given time value
also
: the sign denoting such a prolongation
called also hold
Examples of fermata in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What Nabokov describes in his typically florid style, without naming it, is the fermata.
—
Rachel Kushner, Harper's Magazine, 9 Sep. 2023
There was nothing unassuming about Sunday’s rendition, in which every exaggerated accent and fermata in the first two movements seemed to foreshadow the eventual descent into delusion.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2023
In baroque usage, those fermata markings just indicate the ends of phrases, not (as in later music) directives to hold notes for extra time.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 13 Mar. 2023
There can be no drama without fermatas of stillness.
—Tom Bissell, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
Somehow, an insistent fermata of sirens manages to slink through from the street.
—Danielle Ofri, The New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2020
The mysterious ancient Hebrew word selah is one word for this response, which some believe is a musical notation akin to a fermata.
—Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 12 Mar. 2018
The sound of a piano softly tinkles in the background, gradually building (strings are optional now) into a fermata.
—Cmo Today Staff, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2017
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Rachel Kushner, Harper's Magazine, 9 Sep. 2023
There was nothing unassuming about Sunday’s rendition, in which every exaggerated accent and fermata in the first two movements seemed to foreshadow the eventual descent into delusion.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2023
In baroque usage, those fermata markings just indicate the ends of phrases, not (as in later music) directives to hold notes for extra time.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 13 Mar. 2023
There can be no drama without fermatas of stillness.
—Tom Bissell, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
Somehow, an insistent fermata of sirens manages to slink through from the street.
—Danielle Ofri, The New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2020
The mysterious ancient Hebrew word selah is one word for this response, which some believe is a musical notation akin to a fermata.
—Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 12 Mar. 2018
The sound of a piano softly tinkles in the background, gradually building (strings are optional now) into a fermata.
—Cmo Today Staff, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fermata.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Italian, literally, stop, from fermare to stop, from Latin firmare to make firm
First Known Use
circa 1859, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fermata
Cite this Entry
“Fermata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fermata. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
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