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Tone vs Tenor - What's the difference?

tone | tenor |

In lang=en terms the difference between tone and tenor

is that tone is a whining style of speaking; a kind of mournful or artificial strain of voice; an affected speaking with a measured rhythm and a regular rise and fall of the voice while tenor is an exact copy of a writing, set forth in the words and figures of it. It differs from purport, which is only the substance or general import of the instrument.

In linguistics terms the difference between tone and tenor

is that tone is the pitch of a word that distinguishes a difference in meaning, for example in Chinese while tenor is the subject in a metaphor to which attributes are ascribed.

In obsolete terms the difference between tone and tenor

is that tone is state of mind; temper; mood while tenor is duration; continuance; a state of holding on in a continuous course; general tendency; career.

As a verb tone

is to give a particular tone to.

As a pronoun tone

is the one (of two).

As an adjective tenor is

of or pertaining to the tenor part or range.

tone

English

(wikipedia tone)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) ton, from (etyl)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (music) A specific pitch.
  • (music) (in the diatonic scale ) An interval of a major second.
  • (music) (in a Gregorian chant ) A recitational melody.
  • The character of a sound, especially the timbre of an instrument or voice.
  • General character, mood, or trend.
  • Her rousing speech gave an upbeat tone to the rest of the evening.
  • (linguistics) The pitch of a word that distinguishes a difference in meaning, for example in Chinese.
  • (dated) A whining style of speaking; a kind of mournful or artificial strain of voice; an affected speaking with a measured rhythm and a regular rise and fall of the voice.
  • Children often read with a tone .
  • (literature) The manner in which speech or writing is expressed.
  • * W. C. Bryant
  • Their tone was dissatisfied, almost menacing.
  • (obsolete) State of mind; temper; mood.
  • * Bolingbroke
  • The strange situation I am in and the melancholy state of public affairs, from a philosophical tone or temper, to the drudgery of private and public business.
  • The shade or quality of a colour.
  • The favourable effect of a picture produced by the combination of light and shade, or of colours.
  • This picture has tone .
  • The definition and firmness of a muscle or organ. see also: tonus
  • (biology) The state of a living body or of any of its organs or parts in which the functions are healthy and performed with due vigor.
  • (biology) Normal tension or responsiveness to stimuli.
  • Synonyms
    * (an interval of a major second ): whole tone
    Derived terms
    * dial tone * halftone * muscle tone * semitone * tonebar, tone bar * tone of voice

    Verb

    (ton)
  • to give a particular tone to
  • to change the colour of
  • to make (something) firmer
  • to harmonize, especially in colour
  • To utter with an affected tone.
  • Synonyms
    * (give a particular tone to) * (change the colour of) color/colour, dye, paint, tint * (make firmer) firm, firm up, tone up * (harmonize) harmonise/harmonize * (utter with an affected tone)
    Derived terms
    * toned * tone down * toner * tone up * tony, toney (affected tone)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) tone, ton, toon, from the incorrect division of ; see also (l).

    Pronoun

    (English Pronouns)
  • The one (of two).
  • *, Bk.X, Ch.lxiij:
  • *:So wythin the thirde day, there cam to the cité thes two brethirne: the tone hyght Sir Helyus and the other hyght Helake
  • Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * Eton * note ----

    tenor

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archaic, music) Musical part or section that holds or performs the main melody, as opposed to the contratenor bassus'' and ''contratenor altus , who perform countermelodies.
  • (obsolete) duration; continuance; a state of holding on in a continuous course; general tendency; career.
  • * Gray
  • Along the cool sequestered vale of life / They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
  • (music) Musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto.
  • A person, instrument or group that performs in the tenor (higher than bass and lower than alto) range.
  • Tone, as of a conversation.
  • *
  • (linguistics) The subject in a metaphor to which attributes are ascribed.
  • (finance) Time to maturity of a bond.
  • Stamp; character; nature.
  • * Dryden
  • This success would look like chance, if it were perpetual, and always of the same tenor .
  • (legal) An exact copy of a writing, set forth in the words and figures of it. It differs from purport , which is only the substance or general import of the instrument.
  • (Bouvier)
  • That course of thought which holds on through a discourse; the general drift or course of thought; purport; intent; meaning; understanding.
  • * Shakespeare
  • When it [the bond] is paid according to the tenor .
  • * Spart
  • Does not the whole tenor of the divine law positively require humility and meekness to all men?

    Derived terms

    * Old Tenor, Middle Tenor, New Tenor

    Coordinate terms

    * (voice types) soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)

    See also

    * ("tenor" on Wikipedia)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • of or pertaining to the tenor part or range
  • He has a tenor voice.

    Anagrams

    * ----