harmony
- A pleasing combination or agreement of parts, elements, or people, whether in music, relationships, or ideas.
In a sentence
- The choir sang in perfect harmony, their voices blending beautifully.
- The two neighboring countries worked together to maintain harmony along the border.
Usage note. In music, 'harmony' refers specifically to the combination of simultaneously sounded notes; in general use, it refers to peaceful agreement, so context determines which sense is intended.
Where it comes from
Middle English harmony — “musical or social accord” · entered English 15th c.
From Old French 'harmonie,' from Latin 'harmonia,' which was borrowed from Greek 'harmonia,' meaning 'agreement, concord, a joint or fastening.' The Greek root 'harmos' means 'a joint' and relates to fitting things together. The word entered English in the 15th century initially in musical contexts before extending to broader senses of agreement and peace.