Nocturne (Fr.; Ger, Moktur’ne, Nacht’ stick; It, nottur’no.)

A word introduced by Field as a title for piano-pieces of a dreamily romantic or sentimental character, but lacking a distinctive form. Noc’turns, Services of the Church held during the night, each portion of the Psalm set aside for this purpose being termed a Nocturn, Nodal figures, The figures corresponding to the nodal lines of a vibrating plate of wood, gla , etc; rendered visible by strewing fine dry sand on the plate, this sand being to ed by the vibrating portions of the plate to the nodal lines, which are points of perfect or comparative rest; the symmetrical figures thus formed’ are also called Chladni's figures, having been discovered by him... point, see Node,