symphonize, v.
(ˈsɪmfənaɪz)
[ad. med.L. symphōnizāre (f. symphōnia), or directly f. symphony: see -ize.]
1. a. intr. To sing or sound together, in concert, or in harmony. Now rare or Obs.
| 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. xlviii. 92 b/1 Melodyouse songes and armonyous, as of Infenyte nombre of people; Symphonysynge more swetter thanne ony other Instrumentes. a 1618 Sylvester Miracle of Peace xxxv, When many tunes do gently symphonize. 1787 Gentl. Mag. Dec. 1073/2 On the Coryphæus it depended..that the chorus altogether should symphonize. a 1859 De Quincey Posth. Wks. (1893) II. 134 His first little wolfish howl..may have symphonized with the ear-shattering trumpet. |
b. Welsh Pros. To have the same or a similar sound, to sound alike. Now rare or Obs.
| 1856 J. Williams Gram. Edeyrn §1804 When the syllable next to the main rhyme symphonises or co-rhymes with one of the preceding pauses. |
† 2. To agree, be in accordance, harmonize (with something). Obs.
| 1661 Boyle Style of Script. 71 They decline the commonest Acceptions, but to make the Texts..Symphonize with their Tenents. Ibid. 253 The Law and Prophets Symphonizing with the Gospel. 1712 Sir G. Wheler Liturgy after Model of Ancients 145 That we might symphonize with the Universal Church. |
3. a. To play a symphony (symphony 5 a). Now rare or Obs.
| 1833 New Monthly Mag. July 292 To enable the orchestra to symphonize, and the singer to warble. |
b. trans. To accompany musically. Now rare or Obs.
| 1801 C. Wilmot Let. 29 Nov. in T. U. Sadleir Irish Peer (1920) 4 During the dinner..we were symphoniz'd by republican tunes, play'd outside the window. 1802 ― Let. 19 Oct. in Ibid. 103 A Gothic Castle..symphonis'd by the music of the waters. |
4. To give the character or style of a symphony to (a piece of music), to render symphonic.
| 1932 Amer. Speech Apr. 241 Jazz is meant for the mass, it isn't meant to be symphonized, and all attempts at symphonization have been no more than negligible. |
Hence symphoniˈzation; ˈsymphonized ppl. a., composed in the manner of a symphony.
| 1932 Symphonization [see sense 4 of the vb. above]. 1946 R. Blesh Shining Trumpets i. 14 A spate of symphonized jazz and pseudo-jazz master-works. |