intonation

Etymology

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

noun

1. (linguistics) The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
2. Emotive stress used to increase the power of delivery in speech.
3. A sound made by, or resembling that made by, a musical instrument.
   This additional cause of the intonation of thunder, together with the simile with which it is illustrated, is copied from our poet, both by Pliny, Nat. Hist. ii, 431, and Isidorus, Orig. xiii. 1805, Titus Lucretius Carus, The nature of things: a didactic poem
   As when sulphureous fires, within the caves Of earth long pent, with intonation loud Burst through the riven rocks, and far as eye Can reach their furious devastation spread, So sudden, so resistless was the force Of this blasphemer's bold appeal to arms. 1808, Richard Cumberland, The Exodiad: A Poem, page 375
   In anxious expectation stood the crowd, When the shrill clarion's intonation loud Gave notice that the challenger drew nigh. 1824, Sir James Bland Burges afterwards Lamb, The Dragon Knight: A Poem in Twelve Cantos, page 77
   but Sir Hugh still exclaimed, —"Louder, old man, far louder!" till at last the minstrel, in obedience to his best and dearest friend, struck the harp with such violence, that not only did the strings break, but even the instrument itself burst asunder with a long melancholy intonation. 1825, Friedrich Heinrich Karl Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué, The Magic Ring; a Romance, from the German, Etc, page 287
4. Singing or playing in good tune or otherwise.
   Her intonation was false.
5. 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.