countertonal
|coun-ter-ton-al|
🇺🇸
/ˌkaʊn.tɚˈtoʊ.nəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌkaʊn.təˈtəʊ.nəl/
opposing tone
Etymology
'countertonal' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'counter-' (ultimately from Latin 'contra') meaning 'against' combined with 'tonal' from 'tone' (from Latin 'tonus', Greek 'tonos') where 'tonos' meant 'tension' or 'pitch'.
'counter-' developed from Old French 'contre' (from Latin 'contra') and 'tone' developed from Old French 'ton' (from Latin 'tonus' and Greek 'tonos'); these elements were combined in Modern English to create the compound adjective 'countertonal'.
Initially, 'counter-' meant 'against' and 'tone/tonal' related to 'pitch' or 'tension'; over time combining them produced the modern sense of 'having an opposing or contrasting tone', especially in musical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or practice of being countertonal; a technique or situation in music where contrasting tonalities or opposing tonal lines are used (often rendered as 'countertonality').
The piece's countertonality heightened its sense of unrest.
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Adjective 1
having a tone or tonal structure that contrasts with or opposes another tonal element; especially used in music to describe harmonies or lines that run counter to the main tonality.
The composer used countertonal harmonies to create tension between the melody and accompaniment.
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Last updated: 2025/11/26 09:44