Diezeugmenon

/daɪˌzuːɡˈmeɪnən/ noun

Definition

In ancient Greek music theory, the highest string or note of the lyre that is separated by a tone from the rest of the scale.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek 'dia' (through, across) and 'zeugmenon' (yoked, joined), literally meaning 'separately yoked.' This was a technical term in Pythagorean music theory describing the highest string of the tetrachord system.

Kelly Says

The ancient Greeks were obsessed with mathematical ratios in music, and they named their strings based on how they were connected—'diezeugmenon' literally means a string that's 'separately yoked'! This shows how music and mathematics were inseparable to them.

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