noun
der Vorhalt, -e
reproach
Definition & meaning
Vorhalt is a masculine noun with several meanings:
- Reproach or criticism: A remark expressing blame or disapproval. In the expression “to make someone a Vorhalt,” it means to reproach them for something.
- Music: A dissonant note carried over from one chord into the next, where it creates tension before resolving, usually by moving down to a consonant note.
- Formal questioning or examination: The act of confronting someone—often a witness—with an earlier statement or with information that may contradict what they are saying.
- Aiming ahead of a moving target: In shooting or similar contexts, the distance or allowance by which one aims ahead to account for the target’s movement.
Grammar & Word origin
Vorhalt is masculine: der Vorhalt. Its plural is die Vorhalte.
It is formed from vor (“ahead,” “before”) and halten (“to hold”). The basic idea is of something being held over or positioned ahead: a note is held into the next chord, a prior statement is brought forward, or an aim is set ahead of a moving target.
Synonyms & antonyms
- For the meaning “reproach,” synonyms include Vorwurf , Rüge , and Tadel . Vorwurf is a general accusation or expression of blame; Rüge often sounds more formal, while Tadel emphasizes disapproval.
- In music, Suspension is a technical near-synonym for the held-over dissonant note. It is more specialized than Vorhalt.
- There is no single natural antonym for the musical, procedural, or aiming meanings. For the reproach meaning, Lob [?](vocabuo://word/Lob] (“praise”) can serve as an opposite.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Warum machst du mir immer Vorhalte?noun
Why do you always direct reproaches at me?
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