undertone
UN-der-tohn
/ˈʌndərtoʊn/
A low or quiet voice, pitch, or tone, or an underlying quality or feeling.
Refers to a quiet way of speaking that sits beneath the main volume, or a subtle, hidden emotion beneath a polite surface.
The story behind the word. A compound of the English 'under' and 'tone' (derived from the Greek 'tonos', meaning tension or pitch). It was first recorded in the 18th century to describe a low pitch or an underlying, subtle quality that is not immediately obvious.
Word relationships
- subtext: Subtext is the underlying theme or meaning in a piece of writing or speech, while undertone can refer to both a physical low pitch and a subtle emotional quality.
- overtone: Overtone refers to a prominent, easily detected quality or a higher harmonic frequency.
Commonly confused with
- whisper: Whisper is the physical act of unvoiced speech, while undertone is a low pitch or a subtle, underlying emotional quality.
Collocations
- speak in an undertone
- sinister undertone
- undertone of anger
Example sentences
- "There was a distinct undertone of resentment in his voice, even though he claimed to be happy for her success." Detecting hidden tension in a conversation.
Memory hook
Think of an 'under-tone' as a tone of voice that runs 'under' the surface of what is being said. Undertone is the feeling under the words.
When not to use
Do not use for physical sounds that are loud or have no underlying meaning.
Fun facts
- In painting, an 'undertone' is a color that is applied first and shows through the top coat, mirroring its linguistic meaning of hidden depth.
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