semitonen.

Brit.

/ˈsɛmɪtəʊn/, U.S.

/ˈsɛˌmaɪˌtoʊn/,

/ˈsɛmiˌtoʊn/

Forms: see semi- prefix and tone n.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: semi- prefix, tone n.

Etymology: < semi- prefix + tone n. Compare halftone n.With sense 1 compare post-classical Latin semitonium (5th cent.; frequently from 12th cent. in British sources), semitonus (from 10th cent. in British sources; also in continental sources), Middle French semithon (late 14th cent.; French †semi-ton ). Compare also ancient Greek ἡμιτόνιον hemitone n.

1. Music. The smallest interval used in Western classical music, equal to a twelfth of an octave or half a tone.See also chromatic semitone at chromatic adj. 5b, major semitone at major adj. 7a, minor semitone at minor adj. 6a.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > interval > [noun] > semitone

semitone1486

semitune1486

half-note1597

demitune1598

bemol1626

half-tone1651

hemitone1694

feint1730

demi-tone1828

subtone1829

1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. diii The bellis that yowre hawke shall wheer looke..that thay be..not both of oon sowne: bot that oon be a semytoyn vnder a noder.

1609 J. Dowland tr. A. Ornithoparchus Micrologus 17 A Semitone [L. Semitonium]..is a rising from one Voyce to another, (by an imperfect second) sounding flatly: and it is onely betwixt the Voyces Mi, fa. It is called a Semitone [L. Semitonium], not because it is halfe a Tone..but because it is an imperfect Tone.

1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Interval The lesser flat seventh is equal to the sixth major and semitone major.

1848 E. F. Rimbault First Bk. Pianoforte 33 A tone always includes both a Chromatic and a Diatonic semitone.

1876 tr. P. Blaserna Theory Sound vii. 133 Raising a note a semi-tone signifies raising that note to its sharp, as lowering it a semi-tone signifies lowering it to its flat.

1923 Times 17 Feb. (Royal ed.) 8/1 The composer will have nothing to bother about save pitch; he has twelve equal semi-tones in an octave.

2018 Guardian (Nexis) 12 Feb. One of those ominous (and omnipresent) falling semitones of doom on the soundtrack.

2. A soft or gentle tone of voice; an undertone. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [noun] > undertone

undertone1762

undervoice1810

semitone1818

underbreath1844

1818 ‘T. Brown’ Brighton I. i. 39 ‘Yes, my lord,’ said Zephyr, and, in a semi-tone, muttered, ‘he'll overlook many things.’

1894 Advance (Chicago) 4 Oct. Preachers should pray less in semi-tones, and preach more in thunder tones.

1914 W. T. Ellis ‘Billy’ Sunday: Man & his Message xv. 182 He never speaks in semitones, nor thinks in a nebulous way.

2013 J. Kinsella Disclosed Poetics (new ed.) iii. 153 The crows are speaking in semitones and the songbirds are intermittent.

3. Art. An intermediate tone or tint in a picture; = halftone n. 2. Also figurative. Cf. semi-tint n. at semi- prefix 2d.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > light and shade > [noun] > half-tone

semitone1821

half-tone1867

1821 W. M. Craig Lect. Drawing iii. 155 The semitones, formed by the reflected lights in his pictures, appear scarcely distinguishable.

1862 Lady Llanover in M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. 2nd Ser. III. 97 The greatest harmony of colouring from the various semi-tones of tint laid on.

1911 G. K. Chesterton Crit. & Apprec. Dickens 154 Anyone who thinks that Dickens could not describe the semi-tones and the abrupt instincts of real human nature.

1922 Times 8 Mar. (Libr. ed.) 15/4 The varnished flowers, which usually match the colour of the hat to a semitone.

2005 A. Nair Mistress ii. 209 In the semi tones of the room, in the welding of light and darkness, I can see bits of him.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	semitone
释义	semitonen. Brit. /ˈsɛmɪtəʊn/, U.S. /ˈsɛˌmaɪˌtoʊn/, /ˈsɛmiˌtoʊn/ Forms: see semi- prefix and tone n. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: semi- prefix, tone n. Etymology: < semi- prefix + tone n. Compare halftone n.With sense 1 compare post-classical Latin semitonium (5th cent.; frequently from 12th cent. in British sources), semitonus (from 10th cent. in British sources; also in continental sources), Middle French semithon (late 14th cent.; French †semi-ton ). Compare also ancient Greek ἡμιτόνιον hemitone n. 1. Music. The smallest interval used in Western classical music, equal to a twelfth of an octave or half a tone.See also chromatic semitone at chromatic adj. 5b, major semitone at major adj. 7a, minor semitone at minor adj. 6a. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > interval > [noun] > semitone semitone1486 semitune1486 half-note1597 demitune1598 bemol1626 half-tone1651 hemitone1694 feint1730 demi-tone1828 subtone1829 1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. diii The bellis that yowre hawke shall wheer looke..that thay be..not both of oon sowne: bot that oon be a semytoyn vnder a noder. 1609 J. Dowland tr. A. Ornithoparchus Micrologus 17 A Semitone [L. Semitonium]..is a rising from one Voyce to another, (by an imperfect second) sounding flatly: and it is onely betwixt the Voyces Mi, fa. It is called a Semitone [L. Semitonium], not because it is halfe a Tone..but because it is an imperfect Tone. 1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Interval The lesser flat seventh is equal to the sixth major and semitone major. 1848 E. F. Rimbault First Bk. Pianoforte 33 A tone always includes both a Chromatic and a Diatonic semitone. 1876 tr. P. Blaserna Theory Sound vii. 133 Raising a note a semi-tone signifies raising that note to its sharp, as lowering it a semi-tone signifies lowering it to its flat. 1923 Times 17 Feb. (Royal ed.) 8/1 The composer will have nothing to bother about save pitch; he has twelve equal semi-tones in an octave. 2018 Guardian (Nexis) 12 Feb. One of those ominous (and omnipresent) falling semitones of doom on the soundtrack. 2. A soft or gentle tone of voice; an undertone. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [noun] > undertone undertone1762 undervoice1810 semitone1818 underbreath1844 1818 ‘T. Brown’ Brighton I. i. 39 ‘Yes, my lord,’ said Zephyr, and, in a semi-tone, muttered, ‘he'll overlook many things.’ 1894 Advance (Chicago) 4 Oct. Preachers should pray less in semi-tones, and preach more in thunder tones. 1914 W. T. Ellis ‘Billy’ Sunday: Man & his Message xv. 182 He never speaks in semitones, nor thinks in a nebulous way. 2013 J. Kinsella Disclosed Poetics (new ed.) iii. 153 The crows are speaking in semitones and the songbirds are intermittent. 3. Art. An intermediate tone or tint in a picture; = halftone n. 2. Also figurative. Cf. semi-tint n. at semi- prefix 2d. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > light and shade > [noun] > half-tone semitone1821 half-tone1867 1821 W. M. Craig Lect. Drawing iii. 155 The semitones, formed by the reflected lights in his pictures, appear scarcely distinguishable. 1862 Lady Llanover in M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. 2nd Ser. III. 97 The greatest harmony of colouring from the various semi-tones of tint laid on. 1911 G. K. Chesterton Crit. & Apprec. Dickens 154 Anyone who thinks that Dickens could not describe the semi-tones and the abrupt instincts of real human nature. 1922 Times 8 Mar. (Libr. ed.) 15/4 The varnished flowers, which usually match the colour of the hat to a semitone. 2005 A. Nair Mistress ii. 209 In the semi tones of the room, in the welding of light and darkness, I can see bits of him. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.1486
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