▪ I. phrasing, vbl. n.
(ˈfreɪzɪŋ)
[f. phrase v. + -ing1.]
1. The action of the vb. phrase; manner or style of verbal expression; phraseology, wording.
| 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. 11 Wee haue not tyed ourselues to an vniformitie of phrasing, or to an identity of words. 1741 Richardson Pamela (1824) I. iv. 238 He says, in his usual way of phrasing, that he'll make it as easy to you as a glove. 1887 Saintsbury Hist. Elizab. Lit. ix. (1890) 325 Milton..mixes the extremest vernacular with the most exquisite and scholarly phrasing. |
2. a. Mus. The rendering of musical phrases. Also attrib. as phrasing slur, a slur indicating the proper phrasing.
| 1877 [see phrase v. 6 a]. 1880 Sir H. Parry in Grove Dict. Mus. II. 706/2 Just as the intelligent reading of a literary composition depends upon two things, accentuation and punctuation, so does musical phrasing depend on the relative strength of the sounds, and upon their connection with or separation from each other. 1886 Academy 17 July 48/3 He aroused the sympathy and interest of his audience by his soft and liquid tone, his neat playing, and by his delicate and finished phrasing. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 29 Dec. 3/2 Where it has seemed desirable, phrasing slurs have been added. 1921 A. Rivarde Violin & its Technique i. 11 Many violinists..are constantly blustering with long bows, very often spoiling the phrasing and making violinistic rather than musical effects. 1966 Crescendo Feb. 35/3 To hear drum phrasing at its very best. 1976 Gramophone Apr. 1611/3 Though individual soloists are naturally as fine as one expects of the LSO, the style of phrasing in ensembles is stiffer than it might be. |
b. in sense 6 b of the verb.
| 1978 Daily Tel. 22 Aug. 9/1 In the pas de trois,..in spite of some uncertainty over supported pirouettes, there was splendidly crisp phrasing from Kenneth McCombe and his partners. |
3. transf.
| 1949 M. Mead Male & Female iii. 65 All these themes are present in every cultural phrasing of the mother-child relationship. 1967 W. W. Newcombe in F. Kirkland Rock Art of Texas Indians iv. 40/2 Certainly the two cultural complexes are phrasings of a single basic culture. |
▪ II. ˈphrasing, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That phrases; using phrases; in Sc., loudly or exaggeratedly expressing one's feelings or sentiments.
| 1785 Burns To W. Simpson ii, In sic phraisin terms ye've penn'd it, I scarce excuse ye. 1888 Stevenson Across the Plains, Beggars iv. (1892) 268 A..tale of some worthless, phrasing Frenchman. |