inton

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Intonated p. pr. & vb. n. Intonating ] [ See Intone. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Mus.) To sound the tones of the musical scale; to practice the sol-fa. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To modulate the voice in a musical, sonorous, and measured manner, as in reading the liturgy; to intone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To utter in a musical or sonorous manner; to chant; as, to intonate the liturgy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. intonation. See Intone. ] 1. (Mus.) (a) The act of sounding the tones of the musical scale. (b) Singing or playing in good tune or otherwise; as, her intonation was false. (c) 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. See Intone, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The manner of speaking, especially the placement of emphasis, the cadence, and the rise and fall of the pitch of the voice while speaking. [ PJC ]

n. [ See 1st Intonate. ] A thundering; thunder. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Intoned p. pr. & vb. n. Intoning. ] [ LL. intonare, intonatum; pref. in- in + L. tonus tone. See Tone and cf. Entune, Intonate. ] 1. To utter with a musical or prolonged note or tone; to chant; as, to intone the church service. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To speak with a distinctive or unusual tone in the voice, or in a monotone; as, the professor intoned his lectures as though by rote. [ PJC ]