intonation

From French intonation, from Medieval Latin intonatio, from intonō +‎ -tiō.

• IPA^(key): /ɪntɵˈneɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

intonation (countable and uncountable, plural intonations)

1. (linguistics) The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
2. The act of sounding the tones of the musical scale.
3. Singing or playing in good tune or otherwise.

   Her intonation was false.

4. Reciting in a musical prolonged tone; intonating or singing of the opening phrase of a plain-chant, psalm, or canticle by a single voice, as of a priest.
5. A thundering; thunder.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Bailey to this entry?)

• intonation in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• intonation in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

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intonation f (plural intonations)

1. intonation (all senses)