maxima

See also: Maxima, máxima, and màxima

English

maxima, in musical notation

Etymology

From Latin maxima (“greatest”). Doublet of maxim.

Noun

maxima (plural maximæ or maximas)

1. (music) A music note equal to two (or sometimes three) longæ; in modern notation, this is typically equivalent to eight semibreves.

Usage notes

Due to the practices of prolation and mensuration in mediæval and Renaissance music, the precise length of a maxima varies widely, from as short as eight semibreves to as long as twenty-seven. In modern usage, where imperfect prolation is assumed in all cases, a maxima is taken to be worth eight semibreves. See the Wikipedia article on mensural notation for more information.

Synonyms

• larga
• duplex longa
• (American) octuple whole note

Translations

Translations

• Basque: maxima
• Catalan: màxima (ca) f
• German: Maxima (de) f
• Italian: massima (it) f
• Portuguese: máxima (pt) f
• Russian: максима (ru) f (maksima)
• Spanish: máxima (es) f

Noun

maxima

1. plural of maximum

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

maxima

1. plural of maximum

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mak.si.ma/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

maxima

1. plural of maximum

Noun

maxima m

1. plural of maximum

Latin

Adjective

maxima

1. inflection of maximus:
   1. nominative/vocative feminine singular
   2. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter plural

Adjective

maximā

1. ablative feminine singular of maximus

References

• maxima in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)