Har"mo*ny (här"m?*n?),
n.; pl. Harmonies (-
nĭz). [ F. harmonie, L. harmonia, Gr.
"armoni`a joint, proportion, concord, fr.
"armo`s a fitting or joining. See Article.]
1. The just adaptation of parts to each other,
in any system or combination of things, or in things intended to form
a connected whole; such an agreement between the different parts of a
design or composition as to produce unity of effect; as, the
harmony of the universe.
2. Concord or agreement in facts, opinions,
manners, interests, etc.; good correspondence; peace and friendship;
as, good citizens live in harmony.
3. A literary work which brings together or
arranges systematically parallel passages of historians respecting
the same events, and shows their agreement or consistency; as, a
harmony of the Gospels.
4. (Mus.) (a) A
succession of chords according to the rules of progression and
modulation. (b) The science which treats
of their construction and progression.
Ten thousand harps, that tuned
Angelic harmonies.
Milton.
5. (Anat.) See Harmonic suture,
under Harmonic.
Close harmony, Dispersed
harmony, etc. See under Close, Dispersed,
etc. -- Harmony of the spheres. See
Music of the spheres, under Music.
Syn. -- Harmony, Melody. Harmony
results from the concord of two or more strains or sounds which
differ in pitch and quality. Melody denotes the pleasing
alternation and variety of musical and measured sounds, as they
succeed each other in a single verse or strain.