▪ I. mi, n. Mus.
(miː)
Also 6 my, 7, 9 me.
[Orig. the first syllable of L. mīra: see gamut.]
The name given by Guido to the third note in his hexachords, and since retained in solmization as the third note of the octave; also used (as in Fr. and It.) as a name for the note E natural, the third note in the scale of C major. (In Tonic Sol-fa often written me.)
| a 1529 Skelton Bowge Courte 258 Lerne me to synge, Re, my, fa, sol. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iv. ii. 102 Old Mantuan. Who vnderstandeth thee not, vt re sol la mi fa. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) II. 77 The other [a German]..will drink often musically a health to every one of these 6 notes, Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Gammut, We may begin at ut in c, and pass into the first series at mi. 1811 Busby Dict. Mus. (ed. 3) s.v. Scale, The denomination first given to the arrangement made by Guido, of the six syllables ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la. |
▪ II. mi, a.
(maɪ)
Colloq. abbrev. of minor a. 7.
| 1791 in Eton School Lists 1791–1850 (1863) 2 Mr. Douglas ma. Mr. Douglas mi. 1867 J. A. Symonds Let. Mar. (1967) I. 703 Our tutor lists will need to be filled up next term... I claim B mi as my own. 1932 Wodehouse Louder & Funnier 12 Faber mi got hold of the manuscript and refused to give it up, and Faber ma..hit him over the head. 1963 Times 5 June 14/3 Frost mi..was only allowed to shake his head. |
▪ III. mi
obs. form of my.