harmony

Har"mo*ny (här"m&osl;*n&ybreve;), n.; pl. Harmonies (- n&ibreve;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.

2. Concord or agreement in facts, opinions, manners, interests, etc.; good correspondence; peace and friendship; as, good citizens live in harmony.

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.

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.

Ten thousand harps, that tuned
Angelic harmonies.

5. (Anat.) See Harmonic suture, under Harmonic.

Close harmony, Dispersed harmony, etc. See under Close, Dispersed, etc. -- Harmony of the spheres. See Music of the spheres, under Music.

Syn. -- Harmony, Melody. 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.