Middle English Dictionary Entry
ūnisǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ūnisǒun n. Also unison(e. |
| Etymology | From OF unison n. & L unisonus adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Mus. The interval between notes of identical pitch, the unison; also, a note of the same pitch as another; also, the note used as the base note in contrapuntal singing.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)242 : Þu maist ascende & descende with almaner of cordis excepte 2 a-cordis perfite of one kynde, as 2o vnisouns, 2o 5tis, 2o 8tis, 2o 12this, 2o 15this.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)242 : To enforme a childe in his counterpoynt, he most ymagyne his vnisoun þe 8te note fro þe playnsong beneþe.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)260 : It is fayre & meri singing many jnperfite cordis to-gedir, as for to sing 3e or 4or or 5e 3dis to-gedir, a 5te or a vnisoun nexte aftir.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)269 : Dyapason, þat is proporcio 2la, is þe most perfite acorde aftir þe vnisoun.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)184/31 : Þer be v tunys mysical with-owte qwyche þer is no songe consonaunt, that is to sey, an vnyson, a thyrd, a vte, a vjte, and an eght.
- a1500 Treat.Descant in Burney GHist.Music (Corp-C 410)1.699 : Ther are accordaunce withouten noumber, but ther are ix in use, whych ix be…the Unison, the thyrde, the ffyfte, the sixte, the eyght, the tenth, twelfth, thyrteenth, and the fyfteenth.
- ?a1500 Cutell Treat.Descant in Burney GHist.Music (Bod 482)1.700 : To the mene langes properly 5 accordes, that is to say, the unisone 3, 5, 6, and the 8.