1. sostenuto - Noun
2. sostenuto - Adjective
3. sostenuto - Adverb
Sustained; -- applied to a movement or passage the sounds of which are to sustained to the utmost of the nominal value of the time; also, to a passage the tones of which are to be somewhat prolonged or protacted.
Source: Webster's dictionaryThe sostenuto pedal ( see below ), invented in 1844 by Jean-Louis Boisselot and copied by the Steinway firm in 1874, allowed a wider range of effects. Source: Internet
Unlike in-home digital pianos, stage pianos typically use an external sostenuto pedal and a separate keyboard stand (rather than a built-in stand). Source: Internet
This makes it possible to sustain selected notes (by depressing the sostenuto pedal before those notes are released) while the player's hands are free to play additional notes (which aren't sustained). Source: Internet