atonality
|a/to/na/li/ty|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌeɪtoʊˈnælɪti/
🇬🇧
/ˌeɪtəʊˈnælɪti/
absence of tonal center
Etymology
Etymology Information
'atonality' originates from the prefix 'a-' meaning 'without' and 'tonality' from the Latin 'tonus' meaning 'tone'.
Historical Evolution
'atonality' was derived from the French word 'atonalité', which was adopted into English in the early 20th century.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to music without a tonal center, and this meaning has remained consistent.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the absence of a key or tonal center in a piece of music.
The composer's use of atonality created a sense of unease in the audience.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/18 04:35