Tonelessly: meaning, definitions and examples

The word 'tonelessly' is derived from the root word 'tone', which originates from the Old French 'ton', meaning 'sound, tone', and further back to the Latin 'tonus', meaning 'a sound, tone', which itself comes from the Greek 'tonos', meaning 'stretching, tension'. The suffix '-less' indicates the absence of a quality or characteristic. Hence, 'toneless' literally means lacking tone, and when combined with the adverbial suffix '-ly', it describes the manner of doing something without tone. The use of 'tonelessly' in modern English is relatively recent, evolving as a description of emotional expression, especially in contexts where communication is important, such as in the arts, literature, and everyday conversation. This evolution reflects a growing awareness of non-verbal cues and their significance in human interaction.

Ranking #38,598, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

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• 38595 chortling
• 38596 bobtail
• 38597 airbrushed
• 38598 tonelessly
• 38599 micromanage
• 38600 weaponless
• 38601 renascent
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