intonate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb speak carefully, as with rising and falling pitch or in a particular tone
    intone.
    • please intonate with sadness
  2. verb recite with musical intonation; recite as a chant or a psalm
    chant; cantillate; intone.
    • The rabbi chanted a prayer

WordNet

In"to*nate intransitive verb
Etymology
L. intonatus, p. p. of intonare to thunder, resound.
Definitions
  1. To thunder. Obs. Bailey.
In"to*nate intransitive verb
Etymology
See Intone.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Intonated ; present participle & verbal noun Intonating
Definitions
  1. (Mus.) To sound the tones of the musical scale; to practice the sol-fa.
  2. To modulate the voice in a musical, sonorous, and measured manner, as in reading the liturgy; to intone.
In"to*nate transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To utter in a musical or sonorous manner; to chant; as, to intonate the liturgy.

Webster 1913