† per arsinadv.
Music. Obsolete.
Of a melody: rising from a lower to a higher note; (also) descending from a higher to a lower note. Cf. per thesin adv., earlier per arsin et thesin adv. 1.The terms per arsin and per thesin are rarely found outside of explanations of the more common term per arsin et thesin. The contradictory meanings appear to arise from confusion as to whether the reference is to the notes of the original melody or those of its imitation per arsin et thesin. This confusion may itself be influenced by the confusion with the underlying terms arsis and thesis (see note at arsis n. 2).
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per arsin1636
per thesin1636
1636 C. Butler Princ. Musik i. iii. 72 Revert is dhe Iterating of a Point in contrari Motion..dhe Replie mooving per Thesin, if dhe Principal Ascend, and per Arsin, if dhe Principal descend.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Per Arsin, Per Thesin They are per Arsin, when the Notes ascend from Grave to Acute.
?1775 W. Waring tr. J.-J. Rousseau Dict. Music 24 In regard to the voice, we say that a chant, a counterpoint, a fugue, are per thesin, when the notes rise from flat to sharp; per arsin [Fr. per Arsin] when they descend from sharp to flat .
1821 Q. Musical Mag. & Rev. 3 362 At bar 16, the 1st subject is answered in canon by the bass per arsin.
1879 F. A. G. Ouseley in G. Grove Dict. Music I. 95/1 When applied to the voice, a subject, counterpart, or fugue, is said to be ‘per thesin’, when the notes ascend from grave to acute; ‘per arsin’ when they descend from acute to grave.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018).
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adv.1636