Counterpoint is a compositional approach in which two or more melodic lines (or "voices") complement yet function independently of one another. The phrase "punctus contra punctum" translates to "point against point" in Latin. Polyphonic music is created by composers using counterpoint. Counterpoint exercises the intellect and imagination of the composer; it requires that they be able to think in terms of relationships and patterns between sounds. Counterpoint has been a popular approach to composition for centuries. It is believed to have been first widely applied in the 11th century, but examples can be found as early as 2nd-century B.C.E. The term comes from the Italian word for "against," so technically speaking, all polyphony is counterpoint, but modern usage tends to limit the term to multiple independent melodies played simultaneously. Counterpoint is useful because it allows a composer to expand on a theme or idea while still keeping it coherent and understandable. This can be important when writing dramatic music or music with many changes of mood. By using counterpoint, composers are able to create beautiful pieces without repeating themselves or relying on excess harmonic language (chromaticism or dissonance). Some famous composers who used counterpoint include Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Claudio Monteverdi, and Henry Purcell.