intone

American  

[in-tohn] / ɪnˈtoʊn /

verb (used with object)

intoned, intoning

1. to utter with a particular tone or voice modulation.

2. to give tone or variety of tone to; vocalize.

3. to utter in a singing voice (the first tones of a section in a liturgical service).

4. to recite or chant in monotone.

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verb (used without object)

intoned, intoning

1. to speak or recite in a singing voice, especially in monotone; chant.

2. Music. to produce a tone, or a particular series of tones, like a scale, especially with the voice.

intone British  

/ ɪnˈtəʊn /

verb

1. to utter, recite, or sing (a chant, prayer, etc) in a monotonous or incantatory tone

2. (intr) to speak with a particular or characteristic intonation or tone

3. to sing (the opening phrase of a psalm, etc) in plainsong

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Other Word Forms

• half-intoned adjective
• intoner noun
• unintoned adjective

Etymology

Origin of intone

1475–85; < Medieval Latin intonāre; replacing earlier entone < Middle French entoner < Medieval Latin; in- ², tone

Example Sentences

Those are the first words of the military Oath of Enlistment—the words that new members of the military, with right hands raised, intone as they join the service.

From The Wall Street Journal

Later, its soft intoning of “The world’s avenger is no more” embodied the mourning and loss of hope after the death of Hercules.

From The Wall Street Journal

A prayer was said, a hymn sung; Leah intoned a series of questions to begin their conversation with the dead.

From Literature

"Holiday let, second home, second home, holiday let, second home, holiday let," she intones.

From BBC

“It doesn’t matter. The question is moot,” Jackson intones, before launching into a miniature stump speech.

From Salon

Related Words

• articulate
• chant
• croon
• recite
• sing