in tone

verb (used with object)

to utter with a particular tone or voice modulation.

to give tone or variety of tone to; vocalize.

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

to recite or chant in monotone.

verb (used without object)

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

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

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In tone is always a great word to know.

So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

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

Related forms

in·ton·er, noun

half-in·toned, adjective

un·in·toned, adjective

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary

intone (ɪnˈtəʊn)

—vb
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

[C15: from Medieval Latin intonare, from in-² + tone]

in'toner

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

intone

late 15c., "to utter in musical tones," from O.Fr. entoner (13c.), from M.L. intonare "sing according to tone," from L. in- "in" + tonus "tone," from Gk. tonos (see tenet). Intonation as a musical term dates from 1776.

Matching Quote

"Our medieval historians who prefer to rely as much as possible on official documents because the chronicles are unreliable, fall thereby into an occasionally dangerous error. The documents tell us little about the difference in tone which separates us from those times; they let us forget the fervent pathos of medieval life."

-Johan Huizinga

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