1805-15; < Italian, past participle of legare < Latinligāre to bind
Related forms
nonlegato, adjective
Examples from the web for legato
Mentions his superbly sculpted legato phrasing, his emotion-charged distinctive timbre, and his smoldering stage presence.
What he lacked were subtlety, moments of elegant phrasing and smooth legato.
If he lacked spontaneity, he sang with suave legato and crisp diction.
He loved to teach, and he understood that the piano could make a singing, legato tone--that it did not have to sound percussive.
legato is a technique where the notes are smoothly connected without accents or breaks.
British Dictionary definitions for legato
legato
/lɪˈɡɑːtəʊ/
adjective, adverb
1.
to be performed smoothly and connectedly
noun (pl) -tos
2.
a style of playing in which no perceptible gaps are left between notes
(as modifier): a legato passage
Word Origin
C19: from Italian, literally: bound
Word Origin and History for legato
1811, from Italian legato, literally "bound," past participle of legare, from Latin ligare (see ligament). Of music to be played smoothly, without intervals.