a combining form with the meanings âheight,â âtip end,â âextremities of the body,â used in the formation of compound words: acrophobia. Also, especially before a vowel, acr-. Origin of acro-. < Greek, combining form of Ã¡kros topmost, highest; akin to Latin Äcer sharp.
â¢ CANTUS FIRMUS (noun) The noun CANTUS FIRMUS has 1 sense: 1. a melody used as the basis for a polyphonic composition. Familiarity information: CANTUS FIRMUS used as a noun is very rare. Dictionary entry details.
By Espie Estrella. Renaissance or rebirth, a period of significant changes in history, including music. 1400 - 1474 - Guillaume Dufay, known as the transitional figure to the Renaissance. 1450 - 1550 - During this period composers experimented with cantus firmus. Cantus firmus was commonly used in the Middle Ages which was strongly based on the Gregorian Chant.