a combining form with the meanings âheight,â âtip end,â âextremities of the body,â used in the formation of compound words: acrophobia. Also, especially before a vowel, acr-. Origin of acro-. < Greek, combining form of Ã¡kros topmost, highest; akin to Latin Äcer sharp.
â¢ CANTUS FIRMUS (noun) The noun CANTUS FIRMUS has 1 sense: 1. a melody used as the basis for a polyphonic composition. Familiarity information: CANTUS FIRMUS used as a noun is very rare. Dictionary entry details.
One voice part, usually the tenor, used music from a Chant which was called the cantus firmus or fixed melody. It would move rather slowly with the other voices (soprano, alto, bass) moving around with more interesting and rhythmic melodies. The cantus firmus was then the basis for the rest of the composition.