ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈnāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin intonation-, intonatio, from intonatus (past participle of intonare ) + Latin -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the act of intoning:
a.
(1) : the act of singing the opening phrase of a plainsong, psalm, or canticle
(2) : the act of musically reciting usually in monotone any part of a liturgy
b.
(1) : the act of sounding musical tones (as of a scale)
(2) : the singing and playing of music according to the aural perception of the prevailing standard of accuracy in pitch
c. : the act of reciting in a singing voice usually in a monotone
2. : something intoned ; specifically : the opening tones of a Gregorian chant preceding the reciting note usually sung by the priest alone
3.
a. : the manner of singing, playing, or uttering tones
spoke with a foreign intonation
played the piece with a romantic intonation
b. : pitch phenomena in speech ; especially : such a phenomenon insofar as it makes a syntactical or emotional distinction (as between a declarative and interrogative statement)
• in·to·na·tion·al | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|nāshən ə l, -shnəl adjective