Search the Dictionary

point; that in which one excels. fort"a The construction of a fable seems by no means the forte of our modern poetical writers. Jeffrey.

Furnished with, or guarded by, forts; strengthened or defended, as by forts. [R.] Shak.

One who administers comfort or consolation. Let no comforter delight mine ear But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Shak.

An etching or a print from an etched plate.

A well-known musical instrument somewhat resembling the harpsichord, and consisting of a sreies of wires of graduated length, thickness, and tension, struck by hammers moved by keys. Dumb piano. See Digitorium. -- Grand piano. See under Grand. -- Square piano, one with a horizontal frame and an oblong case. -- Uprig…

means of which the impulse of the player's finger is transmitted to the strings of a pianoforte or to the valve of an organ pipe. Grove. Chose in action. (Law) See Chose. -- Quantity of action (Physics), the product of the mass of a body by the space it runs through, and its velocity.

he æolian organ play. Campbell. Æolian attachment, a contrivance often attached to a pianoforte, which prolongs the vibrations, increases the

shed from harmony. Mendelssohn wants the ariose beauty of Handel; vocal melody is not his forte; the interest of his airs harmonic. Foreign Quart. Rev.

A piece so adapted; a transcription; as, a pianoforte arrangement of Beethoven's symphonies; an orchestral arrangement of a song, an opera, or the like.

open air concert in the morning, as distinguished from an evening serenade; also, a pianoforte composition suggestive of morning. Grove. The crowing cock . . . Sang his aubade with lusty voice and clear. Longfellow.

A keyed stringed instrument, now superseded by the pianoforte. See Clarichord.

The keyboard of an organ, pianoforte, or harmonium.

e roasted and ground berry. They have in Turkey a drink called coffee . . . This drink comforteth the brain and heart, and helpeth digestion. Bacon.

A stuffed or quilted coverlet for a bed; a comforter; a comfort. [U. S.]

nace, etc., used to check or regulate the draught of air. (b) A contrivance, as in a pianoforte, to deaden vibrations; or, as in other pieces of mechanism, to check some action at a particular time. Nor did Sabrina's presence seem to act as any damper at the modest little festivities. W. Black.

To stimulate. [Obs.] "He efforted his spirits." Fuller.

The half of a sword blade or foil blade nearest the point; -- opposed to forte. [Written also faible.]

r, by wading; to wade through. His last section, which is no deep one, remains only to be forted. Milton.

To fortell; to presage; to augur. If I forebode aright. Hawthorne.

A small outwork of a fortification; a fortilage; -- called also fortelace.