MODALITY


Meaning of MODALITY in English

mōˈdaləd.ē, -ətē, -i noun

( -es )

Etymology: French modalité, from Middle French, from modal (from Medieval Latin modalis ) + -ité -ity

1.

a. : the quality or state of being modal

the modality of his music

modality of a circle

b. : a modal quality, attribute, or circumstance : form , pattern

as the varying subject matter requires, the narrative and style take on the modalities of comedy, romance, tragedy, or tragicomedy — J.W.Beach

2. : the qualification of logical propositions according to which they are distinguished as asserting or denying the possibility, impossibility, contingency, or necessity of their content — see category 1b

3. : one of the main avenues of sensation (as vision or audition)

4.

a. : any of several agencies used in physical therapy (as diathermy, high-frequency currents, or massage)

b. : an apparatus for applying such agencies

5. : a tendency to conform to a pattern or type

the greater modality of the male in this regard is indicated by a smaller representation of males than females in the category “Miscellaneous” — Eleanor Smith & J.H.Greenberg Monane

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.