Webster's English Dictionary

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fermata

fer.ma.ta \fer-'ma:t-*\ n [It, lit., stop, fr. fermare to stop, fr. L 
   firmare to make firm] : a prolongation at the discretion of the performer 
   of a musical note, cho rd, or rest beyond its given time value; also : the 
   sign <fermata-up> or <fermata-down> denoting such a prolongation