intonation

Meaning

Noun

• The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
• A sound made by, or resembling that made by, a musical instrument.
• Singing or playing in good tune or otherwise.
• 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.

Origin

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