octave
octave Lexical Profile
octave Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A series of eight consecutive notes occupying the interval between and including two notes, one having twice or half the frequency of vibration of the other, or the interval itself.
"The soprano effortlessly sang a high note an entire octave above the rest of the choir."
A poem or stanza of eight lines, especially the first eight lines of an Italian or Petrarchan sonnet that establish the main theme or problem.
"In a traditional Petrarchan sonnet, the opening octave introduces a central dilemma that the closing sestet resolves."
A period of eight days beginning with a major Christian liturgical feast day, or the eighth day itself considered as the culmination of the festival.
"The cathedral held special evening vespers throughout the entire octave of Easter."
The eighth standard parrying or guarding position in fencing, in which the sword hand is held low on the outside line with the blade angled downward.
"The fencer swiftly dropped his foil into octave to deflect his opponent's low thrust."
• Rhymes for octave
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French octave, from Medieval Latin octava, the feminine form of Latin octavus ('eighth'), from octo ('eight'). Originally referring to the eighth day of a religious feast, it was later applied to the eight-note span of a diatonic musical scale.