Definition of ritenuto
:held back in tempo
—used as a direction in music usually indicating an abrupt slowing down
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ritenuto
adjective
ri·te·nu·to
\
ˌrētəˈnü(ˌ)tō
\
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Origin and Etymology of ritenuto
Italian, past participle of ritenere to hold back, detain, restrain, retain, from Latin retinēre
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