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Glite Dictionary
📈 Voice pitch change 🎵 Pitch accuracy 😐 Flat tone ⛪ Opening chant
intonation

intonation

7.7
A solo singer who sings the opening phrase of a church chant
  • noun
  • /ˌɪn.təˈneɪ.ʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : entonación
  • The priest delivered the intonation before the choir joined in the chant.

Examples

  • Her clear intonation of the opening phrase was met with reverent silence from the congregation.

  • During the medieval service, the intonation set the tone for the entire plainsong.

  • The choir's intonation was perfect during the service.

  • The intonation of the soloist captivated the audience.

  • During the church service, the priest's intonation of the plainsong guided the congregation's worship.

  • The soloist's intonation opened the hymn beautifully, drawing everyone into the moment.

  • As the organ played softly, the intonation of the opening phrase resonated throughout the cathedral.

Synonyms

introit
vsintonation
  • Specialized
9.9

A short piece of music sung or played at the start of a church service

is specifically the solo singing of the opening plainsong phrase

Compounds

intonation pattern
  • Specialized
1 5.6

The rise and fall of the voice when speaking that shows if a sentence is a question or statement

fixed intonation
  • Specialized
7.8

A system where each key or note always plays the same sound when you play it

Surface Forms

intonation singular
intonations plural

Morphology

intonation = intone (semi-transparent) = in + tone + ation

Morphologically a straightforward nominalization of 'intone' to denote the act or product of intoning.

Etymology

The word intonation was used in church from Latin intonare 'to sing' when a leader would sing the opening phrase to set the tone. So, intonation can mean the solo sung phrase that begins a chant or plainsong.