/sos'teuh nooh"toh, soh'steuh-/ ; It. /saws'te nooh"taw/ , adj., n., pl. sostenutos , It. sostenuti /-tee/ . Music.
adj.
1. sustained or prolonged in the time value of the tones.
n.
2. a movement or passage played in this manner.
[ 1715-25; sostenere; see SUSTAIN ]