leitmotif

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 9, 2020 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>leitmotif</strong> &#149; \LYTE-moh-teef\&nbsp; &#149; <em>noun</em><br /> <p><strong>1 :</strong> a melodic phrase or figure that accompanies the reappearance of an idea, person, or situation in a music drama</p> <p><strong>2 :</strong> a dominant recurring theme</p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>The overcoming of obstacles and a love of theater are the two <em>leitmotifs</em> of her autobiography.</p> <p>"The panther has been Cartier's <em>leitmotif</em> for more than a century. The first time the Paris-based jewelry company … alluded to the graceful jungle cat was in 1914, when the house created a women's platinum wristwatch with a case that resembled an abstracted version of the elegant animal's spots, in onyx and diamonds." — <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/26/t-magazine/cartier-necklace-surnaturel.html">Nancy Hass, <em>The New York Times</em>, 26 Aug. 2020</a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>The English word <em>leitmotif</em> (or <em>leitmotiv</em>, as it is also spelled) comes from the German <em>Leitmotiv</em>, meaning "leading motive," and is formed from the verb <em>leiten</em> ("to lead") and the noun <em>Motiv</em> ("<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motive">motive</a>"). In its original sense, the word applies to opera music; it was first used by writers interpreting the works of composer Richard Wagner, who was famous for associating a melody with a character or important dramatic element. <em>Leitmotif</em> is still commonly used with reference to music and musical drama but it is now also used more broadly to refer to any recurring theme in the arts or in everyday life.</p> <br /><br /> </p> </font>