CRESCENDO Cres*cen"do (krs-sn"d; It. kr-shn"d), a. & adv. Etym: [It., from crescere to increase. See Crescent.] (Mus.)
Defn: With a constantly increasing volume of voice; with gradually increasing strength and fullness of tone; — a direction for the performance of music, indicated by the mark, or by writing the word on the score.
CRESCENDO Cres*cen"do, n. (Mus.) (a) A gradual increase in the strength and fullness of tone with which a passage is performed. (b) A pssage to be performed with constantly increasing volume of tone.
CRESCENT Cres"cent (krs"sent), n. Etym: [OE. cressent, cressaunt, crescent (in sense 1), OF. creissant increasing, F. croissant, p. pr. of cro, OF. creistre, fr. L. crescere to increase, v. incho.; akin to creare to create. See Create, and cf. Accrue, Increase, Crescendo.]
1. The increasing moon; the moon in her first quarter, or when defined by a concave and a convex edge; also, applied improperly to the old or decreasing moon in a like state.
2. Anything having the shape of a crescent or new moon.
3. A representation of the increasing moon, often used as an emblem or badge; as: (a) A symbol of Artemis, or Diana. (b) The ancient symbol of Byzantium or Constantinople. Hence: (c) The emblem of the Turkish Empire, adopted after the taking of Constantinople. The cross of our faith is replanted, The pale, dying crescent is daunted. Campbell.
4. Any one of three orders of knighthood; the first instituted by Charles I., king of Naples and Sicily, in 1268; the second by René of Anjou, in 1448; and the third by the Sultan Selim III., in 1801, to be conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services. Brande & C.
5. (Her.)
Defn: The emblem of the increasing moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; — often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants.