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Intonate

//ˈɪntəʊneɪt// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To intone or recite (words), especially emphatically or in a chanting manner. dated, intransitive, transitive

    "[…] we have no doubt whatever that the recitation of verse on the stage was of an artificial and semi-musical character. It was undoubtedly much more sustained and intonated with a slow and measured stateliness, which, whilst harmonizing it with the other circumstances of solemnity in Greek tragedy, would bring it nearer to music."

  2. 2
    To thunder or to utter in a sonorous or thunderous voice. obsolete

    "But agaynst all such as contemne the holy scriptures & cast awaye the law of theyr LORDE God, wyllynge neither to enter them selues, nor yet suffryng other, christ intonateth and thonderethe on this manner […]"

  3. 3
    recite with musical intonation; recite as a chant or a psalm wordnet
  4. 4
    To say or speak with a certain intonation. dated, transitive

    "“Is this Mr. O’Connor’s chamber?” inquired a voice of peculiar richness, intonated not unpleasingly with a certain melodious modification of the brogue […]"

  5. 5
    speak carefully, as with rising and falling pitch or in a particular tone wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    To intone or vocalize (musical notes); to sound the tones of the musical scale; to practise the sol-fa. dated, transitive

    "The composer so ordered it, that the king’s part should be one holding note, in a pitch proper for a Contratenor, for that was the king’s voice. Nor was he inattentive to other particulars, for he contrived his own part, which was the Bass, in such a manner, that every other note he sung was an octave to that of the king, which prevented his majesty from deviating from that single note which he was to intonate."

Etymology

Etymology 1

First attested in 1795; borrowed from Medieval Latin intonātus, perfect passive participle of intonō (“to vocalize, chant”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from in- (inchoative prefix) + tonus (“pitch, tone”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix); doublet of intone. Cognate with French entonner, Italian intonare.

Etymology 2

First attested in 1631; borrowed from Latin intonātus, perfect passive participle of intonō (“to thunder forth”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

See also for "intonate"

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