plagal

adjective

pla·​gal ˈplā-gəl 

1

of a church mode : having the keynote on the fourth scale step compare authentic sense 4a

2

of a cadence : progressing from the subdominant chord to the tonic compare authentic sense 4b

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin plagalis, ultimately from Greek plagios oblique, sideways, from plagos side; akin to Latin plaga net, region, Greek pelagos sea

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1