What is the meaning of 'Ritenuto'?

The term 'Ritenuto' is used in music to indicate a sudden decrease in tempo, often suggesting a delay or a sense of holding back. This instruction tells the performer to slow down the music, but with a degree of suddenness, emphasizing a kind of tension or drama in the performance.

The choice that describes it as "held back" captures this essence accurately, as it conveys the idea of restraint or a deliberate slowing that creates a reflective or poignant moment in the music. Other choices, while they refer to different dynamics of music or tempo, do not encapsulate the specific nuance of 'Ritenuto' as effectively. Thus, 'held back' aligns perfectly with the instruction aimed at creating a dramatic or expressive moment in a piece of music.