---
title: intone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «intone» in the school dictionary: To say something slowly in a steady, flat voice, almost like singing on one note. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# intone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** priest, Silence, wizard, monks, robot, Mr · **What happens:** say, sing, chant, do, word, intone · **To what, where:** something, steady flat voice, one note, words, prayer, opening prayer · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«intone» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [intone in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/intone.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say something slowly in a steady, flat voice, almost like singing on one note.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:intone:m1:1
# text = To say something slowly in a steady, flat voice, almost like singing on one note.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
17	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | something |  | a steady flat voice |  | slowly *property* | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent something=Theme in voice=Manner |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  | one note |  | almost *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on note=Location |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sing or chant words of a prayer or service on one note, as a priest or choir does.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:intone:m2:1
# text = To sing or chant words of a prayer or service on one note, as a priest or choir does.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sing	sing	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	chant	chant	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
15	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	choir	choir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
20	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **chant** | infinitive |  | words of a prayer or service |  | one note |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Topic |
| 3 | **do** | present | a priest or choir |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **word** |  |  | a prayer or service |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The priest intoned the opening prayer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:intone:x1:1
# text = The priest intoned the opening prayer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	intoned	intone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	opening	opening	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **intone** | past | the priest | the opening prayer |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prayer=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Silence in the library,» the librarian intoned.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:intone:x2:1
# text = «Silence in the library,» the librarian intoned.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Silence	silence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	librarian	librarian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	intoned	intone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **intone** | past | Silence in the library |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wizard raised his staff and intoned a spell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:intone:x3:1
# text = The wizard raised his staff and intoned a spell.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	raised	raise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	staff	staff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	intoned	intone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	spell	spell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | past | the wizard | wizard's staff |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent staff=Theme |
| 2 | **intone** | past | the wizard *not said here* | a spell |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spell=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The monks intoned the psalm in a low voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:intone:x4:1
# text = The monks intoned the psalm in a low voice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	intoned	intone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **intone** | past | the monks | the psalm |  | a low voice |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent psalm=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The robot intoned, «Please enter the password.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:intone:x5:1
# text = The robot intoned, «Please enter the password.»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	intoned	intone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	7	discourse	_	_
7	enter	enter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	password	password	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **intone** | past | the robot |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **enter** *in a quote* | infinitive | the robot *not said here* | the password |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme password=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mr Shaw intoned the list of names without looking up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:intone:x6:1
# text = Mr Shaw intoned the list of names without looking up.
1	Mr	Mr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Shaw	Shaw	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	intoned	intone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **intone** | past | Mr | the list of names |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent list=Theme |
| 2 | **look up** | gerund | names *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **list** |  |  | names |  |  |  |  | nom list «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The choir intoned the same note again and again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:intone:x7:1
# text = The choir intoned the same note again and again.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	choir	choir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	intoned	intone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	again	again	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **intone** | past | the choir | the same note |  |  | again |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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