Intone

To say or recite something in a particular tone of voice, often slow, measured, and with a slight rise and fall in pitch, suggesting a solemnity, ritual, or emphasis. It frequently implies a somewhat monotonous or rhythmic delivery. The word emphasizes the *manner* of speaking, often over the *content*. Intoning can be used to deliver prayers, pronouncements, or read poetry aloud, and can set a specific mood, conveying gravitas, or suggesting a ceremony is underway. The verb focuses on how something is spoken. The inflection and tempo contribute to the overall meaning and emotional impact of the communicated words.

Intone meaning with examples

• The priest began to intone the ancient prayer, his voice echoing through the vast cathedral. His rhythmic cadence and measured phrasing created a sense of reverence, making the ancient words take on a new life and solemnity, as the congregation listened intently.
• The history professor would intone the names and dates of significant historical events, often in a detached manner, making the subject seem distant and unengaging. The monotone delivery gave the impression of reciting a pre-determined sequence with little personal investment.
• As the judge intoned the guilty verdict, a hush fell over the courtroom; the gravity of the moment was palpable. The measured speed of the announcement emphasized the life-changing consequences of the pronouncement; it seemed to slow down time itself.
• The actors rehearsed how they would intone the lines of the play, aiming for the correct emotion during the reading, and the appropriate tempo of the verses to evoke the spirit of the scene to the watching director.