a succession of phenomena in the universe, or a mode of duration marked by certain periods or measures, chiefly by the motion and revolution of the sun.

The general idea which time gives in every thing to which it is applied, is that of limited duration. Thus we cannot say of the Deity, that he exists in time; because eternity, which he inhabits, is absolutely uniform, neither admitting limitation nor succession. See Metaphysics, no 209.

music, is an affection of sound, by which it is said to be long or short, with regard to its continuance in the same tone or degree of tune.

Musical time is distinguished into common or duple time, and triple time.

Duple, duple, or common time, is when the notes are in a duple duration of each other, viz. a semibreve equal to two minims, a minim to two crotchets, a crotchet to two quavers, &c.

Common or double time is of two kinds. The first when every bar or measure is equal to a semibreve, or its value in any combination of notes of a less quantity. The second is where every bar is equal to a minim, or its value in less notes. The movements of this kind of measure are various, but there are three common distinctions; the first slow, denoted at the beginning of the line by the mark C; the second brisk, marked thus E; and the third very brisk, thus marked F.

Triple time is when the durations of the notes are triple of each other, that is, when the semibreve is equal to three minims, the minim to three crotchets, &c. and it is marked T.