For-zan'do, adv.

(fōrd-zän'do), adv. [It., properly p. pr. of forzare, to force, q. v.] (Mus.) Sudden and forcible; explosive;—used to designate a tone which is produced suddenly and forcibly, and instantly diminished;—usually indicated by the mark > over each note of the passage, or by the letters sf or fz placed at the beginning of the passage. [Written also sforzando.]