: 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 alsohold
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebSomehow, 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
Word History
Etymology
Italian, literally, stop, from fermare to stop, from Latin firmare to make firm