plagal

[ pley-guh l ]
/ ˈpleɪ gəl /

adjective Music.

(of a Gregorian mode) having the final in the middle of the compass. Compare authentic(def 6a).

Origin of plagal

1590–1600; < Medieval Latin plagālis, equivalent to plag(a) plagal mode (apparently back formation from plagius plagal; see plage) + -ālis -al1

Words nearby plagal

placket, placode, placoderm, placoid, plafond, plagal, plagal cadence, plage, plagiarism, plagiarize, plagiary

Example sentences from the Web for plagal

British Dictionary definitions for plagal

plagal
/ (ˈpleɪɡəl) /

adjective

(of a cadence) progressing from the subdominant to the tonic chord, as in the Amen of a hymn
(of a mode) commencing upon the dominant of an authentic mode, but sharing the same final as the authentic mode. Plagal modes are designated by the prefix Hypo- before the name of their authentic counterparts the Hypodorian mode
Compare authentic (def. 5)

Word Origin for plagal

C16: from Medieval Latin plagālis, from plaga, perhaps from Greek plagos side