Ritardando, ritardando |

Italian, lit. – slowing down, delaying; abbr. rit.

The designation used in musical notation for a smooth, gradual slowdown in tempo. The meaning coincides with the designation rallentando and approaches the designation ritenuto; opposes the terms accelerando and stringendo, which prescribe an acceleration of the tempo. Since the abbreviation R. (rit.) coincides with the abbreviation ritenuto, the performer, when deciphering it, has to conform to his muses. taste.