intone

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to say something slowly and solemnly, often with little variation in pitch

   The officiant intoned the opening words of the ceremony.

2. 2
   verb

   to sing or chant words on a sustained or measured musical tone

   A cantor began to intone the psalm, and the choir answered.

From Middle English entone, through Old French entoner from Medieval Latin intonare, built from in- + Latin tonus ("tone, pitch"). It is a doublet of intonate and first referred especially to beginning a chant in the proper tone.

Topics