intone

[ in-tohn ]
See synonyms for intone on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),in·toned, in·ton·ing.
  1. to utter with a particular tone or voice modulation.

  2. to give tone or variety of tone to; vocalize.

  1. to utter in a singing voice (the first tones of a section in a liturgical service).

  2. to recite or chant in monotone.

verb (used without object),in·toned, in·ton·ing.
  1. to speak or recite in a singing voice, especially in monotone; chant.

  2. Music. to produce a tone, or a particular series of tones, like a scale, especially with the voice.

Origin of intone

1
1475–85; <Medieval Latin intonāre; replacing earlier entone<Middle French entoner<Medieval Latin; see in-2, tone

Other words from intone

  • in·ton·er, noun
  • half-in·toned, adjective
  • un·in·toned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use intone in a sentence

  • The King entered unexpectedly without the royal anthem being intoned.

    The conquest of Rome | Matilde Serao
  • In all that great church there was only one to whom his slowly intoned words had a significant meaning.

    The Viking Blood | Frederick William Wallace
  • He intoned a line or two of Court Persian, which is the language of authorised and unauthorised diplomacy.

    Kim | Rudyard Kipling
  • So saying he intoned in Veni Creator, chanted in chorus by all present.

    Preaching and Paganism | Albert Parker Fitch
  • It may be observed that the assistant curate knelt with his back to the congregation, whilst the Vicar intoned the Commandments.

    The Church Index | William Pepperell

British Dictionary definitions for intone

intone

/ (ɪnˈtəʊn) /


verb
  1. to utter, recite, or sing (a chant, prayer, etc) in a monotonous or incantatory tone

  2. (intr) to speak with a particular or characteristic intonation or tone

  1. to sing (the opening phrase of a psalm, etc) in plainsong

Origin of intone

1
C15: from Medieval Latin intonare, from in- ² + tone

Derived forms of intone

  • intoner, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012