scalewise

adjective

scale·​wise ˈskāl-ˌwīz 

: stepwise entry 2 sense 2

A four-note scalewise descent in the minor mode has been an image of lament since the Renaissance …

—Paul Griffiths, The New York Times, 11 Aug. 2002

… in some of the organ works, he was hypnotized by scalewise movement.

—Wilfrid Mellers, Musical Quarterly, October 1954

scalewise adverb

Word History

Etymology

scale entry 7 + -wise

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

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