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ritenuto

adjective

ri·​te·​nu·​to
ˌrētəˈnü(ˌ)tō
: held back in tempo
used as a direction in music usually indicating an abrupt slowing down

Word History

Etymology

Italian, past participle of ritenere to hold back, detain, restrain, retain, from Latin retinēre

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Cite this Entry

“Ritenuto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ritenuto. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.

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