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The word '''limma''' or '''leimma''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]]: {{math|λείμμα}}, ''leimma''; meaning "remnant") can refer to several different [[interval (music)|musical intervals]], and one form of breath-mark to indicate spacing within lyrics; their only common property is that all are very small either in pitch difference or in time.

== Pitch ==
More specifically, in Pythagorean tuning (i.e. 3-limit):
* The original [[Pythagorean limma]], {{sfrac| 256 | 243 }}, a [[Pythagorean interval]] ({{Audio|Pythagorean minor semitone on C.mid|play}}).

and in [[limit (music)|5-limit]] tuning:
* The 5-limit diatonic semitone, {{sfrac| 16 | 15 }} ({{Audio|Just diatonic semitone on C.mid|play}}). Although closer in size to the [[Pythagorean apotome]] than to the limma, it has been so called because of its function as a diatonic semitone rather than a chromatic one.

* The [[limit (music)|5-limit]] limma (now a [[diesis]]), {{sfrac| 128 | 125 }}, the amount by which three just [[major third]]s fall short of an octave ({{Audio|5-limit limma on C.mid|play}}).

* The [[major limma]], {{sfrac| 135 | 128 }}, which is the difference between two [[Major second|major whole tones]] and a [[minor third]] ({{Audio|Greater chromatic semitone on C.mid|play}}).

== Metre ==
A leimma is ''also'' the name of a musical / metrical symbol ({{math|𝉅}}) for the timing of sung lyrics. If written over lyrics to it directed the singer to insert the ''shortest possible pause'' between words or syllables it was placed over.<ref>{{cite dictionary |title={{math|λεῖμμα}} |date=4 September 2023 |edition=last edit |dictionary=Liddell, Scott, Jones Ancient Greek Lexicon (online) |quote=2&thinsp;(b) in Rhythm, the shortest pause, {{math|λ. ἐν ῥυθμῷ}} {{math|χρόνος κενὸς}} {{math|ἐλάχιστος}} Aristid. Quint. 1.18&nbsp;. |url=https://lsj.gr/wiki/%CE%BB%CE%B5%E1%BF%96%CE%BC%CE%BC%CE%B1 |access-date=2024-03-15 |via=LSJ - Ancient Greek dictionaries}}</ref>

Modern equivalents are:
* a [[breath mark]]
* a [[comma (punctuation)| comma [,]<nowiki/>]]
* a [[sixteenth note|sixteenth rest ({{math|𝄿      }})]] or perhaps a [[Thirty-second note|thirty-second rest ({{math|𝅀  }})]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{SIA}}
[[Category:Intervals (music)]]