Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Appoggiatura
‖
Ap-pogˊgia-tu′ra
,Noun.
[It., fr.
appogiarre
to lean, to rest; ap-
(L. ad
) + poggiare
to mount, ascend, poggio
hill, fr. L. podium
an elevated place.] (Mus.)
A passing tone preceding an essential tone, and borrowing the time it occupies from that; a short auxiliary or grace note one degree above or below the principal note unless it be of the same harmony; – generally indicated by a note of smaller size, as in the illustration above. It forms no essential part of the harmony.