close harmony

Harmony \Har"mo*ny\ (h[aum]r"m[-o]*n[y^]), n.; pl. {Harmonies}
   (-n[i^]z). [F. harmonie, L. harmonia, Gr. "armoni`a joint,
   proportion, concord, fr. "armo`s a fitting or joining. See
   {Article}.]
   1. The just adaptation of parts to each other, in any system
      or combination of things, or in things intended to form a
      connected whole; such an agreement between the different
      parts of a design or composition as to produce unity of
      effect; as, the harmony of the universe.
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   2. Concord or agreement in facts, opinions, manners,
      interests, etc.; good correspondence; peace and
      friendship; as, good citizens live in harmony.
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   3. A literary work which brings together or arranges
      systematically parallel passages of historians respecting
      the same events, and shows their agreement or consistency;
      as, a harmony of the Gospels.
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   4. (Mus.)
      (a) A succession of chords according to the rules of
          progression and modulation.
      (b) The science which treats of their construction and
          progression.
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                Ten thousand harps, that tuned
                Angelic harmonies.                --Milton.
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   5. (Anat.) See {Harmonic suture}, under {Harmonic}.
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   {Close harmony}, {Dispersed harmony}, etc. See under {Close},
      {Dispersed}, etc.

   {Harmony of the spheres}. See {Music of the spheres}, under
      {Music}.

   Syn: {Harmony}, {Melody}.

   Usage: Harmony results from the concord of two or more
          strains or sounds which differ in pitch and quality.
          Melody denotes the pleasing alternation and variety of
          musical and measured sounds, as they succeed each
          other in a single verse or strain.
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Close \Close\ (kl[=o]s), a. [Compar. {Closer} (kl[=o]"s[~e]r);
   superl. {Closest}.] [Of. & F. clos, p. p. of clore. See
   {Close}, v. t.]
   1. Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box.
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            From a close bower this dainty music flowed.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. Narrow; confined; as, a close alley; close quarters. "A
      close prison." --Dickens.
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   3. Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a
      feeling of lassitude; -- said of the air, weather, etc.
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            If the rooms be low-roofed, or full of windows and
            doors, the one maketh the air close, . . . and the
            other maketh it exceeding unequal.    --Bacon.
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   4. Strictly confined; carefully quarded; as, a close
      prisoner.
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   5. Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden. "He
      yet kept himself close because of Saul." --1 Chron. xii. 1
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            "Her close intent."                   --Spenser.
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   6. Disposed to keep secrets; secretive; reticent. "For
      secrecy, no lady closer." --Shak.
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   7. Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact;
      as applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as
      applied to liquids.
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            The golden globe being put into a press, . . . the
            water made itself way through the pores of that very
            close metal.                          --Locke.
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   8. Concise; to the point; as, close reasoning. "Where the
      original is close no version can reach it in the same
      compass." --Dryden.
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   9. Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; --
      often followed by to.
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            Plant the spring crocuses close to a wall.
                                                  --Mortimer.
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            The thought of the Man of sorrows seemed a very
            close thing -- not a faint hearsay.   --G. Eliot.
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   10. Short; as, to cut grass or hair close.
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   11. Intimate; familiar; confidential.
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             League with you I seek
             And mutual amity, so strait, so close,
             That I with you must dwell, or you with me.
                                                  --Milton.
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   12. Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced; as, a close vote.
       "A close contest." --Prescott.
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   13. Difficult to obtain; as, money is close. --Bartlett.
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   14. Parsimonious; stingy. "A crusty old fellow, as close as a
       vise." --Hawthorne.
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   15. Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact;
       strict; as, a close translation. --Locke.
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   16. Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating;
       strict; not wandering; as, a close observer.
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   17. (Phon.) Uttered with a relatively contracted opening of
       the mouth, as certain sounds of e and o in French,
       Italian, and German; -- opposed to open.
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   {Close borough}. See under {Borough}.

   {Close breeding}. See under {Breeding}.

   {Close communion}, communion in the Lord's supper, restricted
      to those who have received baptism by immersion.

   {Close corporation}, a body or corporation which fills its
      own vacancies.

   {Close fertilization}. (Bot.) See {Fertilization}.

   {Close harmony} (Mus.), compact harmony, in which the tones
      composing each chord are not widely distributed over
      several octaves.

   {Close time}, a fixed period during which killing game or
      catching certain fish is prohibited by law.

   {Close vowel} (Pron.), a vowel which is pronounced with a
      diminished aperture of the lips, or with contraction of
      the cavity of the mouth.

   {Close to the wind} (Naut.), directed as nearly to the point
      from which the wind blows as it is possible to sail;
      closehauled; -- said of a vessel.
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