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ligature

noun

  1. glyph combining two or more letterforms in a single typeset or handwritten character
L323256 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ-der. Latin ligō Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? Latin -tūra Late Latin ligātūrabor. Middle French ligaturebor. Middle English ligature English ligature From Middle English ligature, from Middle French ligature, from Late Latin ligātūra, from Latin ligātus, past participle of ligāre (“to tie, bind”).

  1. The act of tying or binding something.
  2. A cord or similar thing used to tie something; especially the thread used in surgery to close a vessel or duct.

    anti-ligature clothing

    I likewiſe felt ſeveral ſlender Ligatures acroſs my Body, from my Armpits to my Thighs. I could only look upwards, the Sun began to grow hot, and the Light offended mine Eyes.

  3. A thread or wire used to remove tumours, etc.
  4. The state of being bound or stiffened; stiffness.

    the ligature of a joint

  5. A character that visually combines multiple letters, such as æ, œ, ß or ij; also logotype. Sometimes called a typographic ligature.
  6. A group of notes played as a phrase, or the curved line that indicates such a phrase.
  7. A curve or line connecting notes; a slur.
  8. A piece used to hold a reed to the mouthpiece on woodwind instruments.
  9. Any binding, uniting, or restraining principle or agency.
  10. A spell or charm that induces sexual impotence.

    The Roman epic poet Vergil refers to the incapacitating effects of ligatures, while Ovid, the erotic poet, admits the power of such spell-bindings.

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ-der. Latin ligō Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? Latin -tūra Late Latin ligātūrabor. Middle French ligaturebor. Middle English ligature English ligature From Middle English ligature, from Middle French ligature, from Late Latin ligātūra, from Latin ligātus, past participle of ligāre (“to tie, bind”).

  1. To ligate; to tie.