esportato
Esportato is a musical articulation marking used to indicate a light, semi-detached touch within a legato phrase. It sits between legato and staccato: notes should be connected in musical line but lightly separated, avoiding a fully smooth legato or a harsh staccato. The effect is often described as a restrained, singing line with gentle articulation.
Notationally, esportato is typically realized by a slur over a group of notes with dots or tenuto
Context and usage vary by instrument and period. Esportato has been used in Romantic-era music and earlier,
In practice, esportato is closely related to portato. Contemporary editors may favor the term portato, but esportato