Intoned

Intoned is the past tense and past participle of the verb intone, meaning to utter or recite with a particular tone, pitch, or melodic pattern. It is typically used to indicate delivery that is solemn, ritualized, or formally expressive, as in prayers, blessings, or ceremonial readings.

Etymology and usage: Intone derives from Latin intonare, from tonus “tone” or “sound.” The form intoned appears in English from Middle English onward. It describes voice quality or cadence that conveys gravity, reverence, or formality, and can apply to speech, chant, or poetry.

Usage in context: In narrative writing, one might say “the priest intoned the blessing” to convey ceremonial solemnity. In poetry or prose, it can describe the cadence of a line or the mood of a passage. In linguistics, intonation refers to systematic pitch variation across phrases, whereas intoned simply notes that a particular utterance carried such a tone. The term is most common in literary, religious, or historical descriptions and is less typical in casual conversation.

See also: intonation, intoner, intonational.