forte meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

forte

noun

UK /ˈfɔːteɪ/ · US /ˈfoɹ.teɪ/

Etymology Borrowed 1640–50; earlier fort < Middle French; disyllabic pronunciation by association with Italian forte, from Latin fortis (“strong”). Doublet of fort and fortis.

A strength or talent; a strong point.

He writes respectably, but poetry is not his forte.
Between ourselves, the country is rather triste, and you have given me positively a sensation; yet my forte is not the Arcadian: however, I will do my petit possible to console you for the loss of le beau Lindor, who was my predecessor.1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XV, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 115:

The strong part of a sword blade, close to the hilt.

Synonyms: bent, forte, gift, knack, long suit, métier, speciality, strength, strong suit, talent
Antonyms: weak spot
Related terms: skill, skilled

forte

adv

US /ˈfoɹteɪ/ · /ˈfoːɹteɪ/

Etymology Borrowed from Italian forte (“strong”).

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Loudly, as a dynamic in a piece of music.

(abbreviation) f
The musicians played the passage forte.

Related terms: fortepiano, fortissimo, fortississimo, mezzo forte, pianoforte

forte

adj

Etymology Borrowed from Italian forte (“strong”).

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Loud.

This passage is forte, then there's a diminuendo to mezzo piano.

forte

noun

Etymology Borrowed from Italian forte (“strong”).

A passage in music to be played loudly; a loud section of music.

This forte marks the climax of the second movement.

Related terms: dagesh forte, eau forte, peine forte et dure, piano-forte, powder-forte, piano

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.