intone

Everyday

1. To say something slowly in a steady, flat voice, almost like singing on one note. tree →
2. (church) To sing or chant words of a prayer or service on one note, as a priest or choir does. tree →

In the lessons

In stories it shows a serious, slow, sometimes boring or spooky voice: a wizard intones a spell, a teacher intones the rules. In church life, priests and choirs intone prayers and psalms. Phrases: intone a prayer, intone the words, intoned solemnly.

Examples

• The priest intoned the opening prayer. tree →
• «Silence in the library,» the librarian intoned. tree →
• The wizard raised his staff and intoned a spell. tree →
• The monks intoned the psalm in a low voice. tree →
• The robot intoned, «Please enter the password.» tree →
• Mr Shaw intoned the list of names without looking up. tree →
• The choir intoned the same note again and again. tree →

Note

Regular verb: intoned, intoning. It describes the way of speaking, not just speaking: use it for slow, steady, solemn voices. Related noun: intonation (the rise and fall of the voice), which in language lessons means something wider than «intone».