neume

Meaning

Noun

• Any of a set of signs used in early musical notation.
• A sequence of notes to be sung to one syllable.

Origin

• From 15th c. Middle English newme, nevme, neme; from Middle French neume, in turn from Medieval Latin neuma or pneuma, either from Ancient Greek πνεῦμα ("breath") or νεῦμα, or else a corruption of πνεῦμα. pneuma.