I. |ästə̇|näd.(ˌ)ō, -tē|-, |ōs-, |ȯs-, -nä(ˌ)tō adjective
Etymology: Italian, stubborn, from Latin obstinatus obstinate
: relating to any frequently repeated motif or passage in any part of a musical composition or to the use of such repetition
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a musical figure repeated persistently at the same pitch throughout a composition
b. : the use of such repetition
2. : ground bass