diatonic, a.
(daɪəˈtɒnɪk)
[a. F. diatonique (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. diatonic-us, a. Gr. διατονικός, f. διάτονος, f. διά through, at the interval of + τόνος tone.]
1. The name of that genus or scale of ancient Greek music (the others being chromatic and enharmonic) in which the interval of a tone was used, the tetrachord being divided into two whole tones and a semitone (as in each half of the modern diatonic scale).
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1252 Before his time, al Musicke was either Diatonique or Chromatique. 1694 Holder Treat. Harm. (1731) 102 The Diatonick had two Colours; it was Molle and Syntonum. 1763 J. Brown Poetry & Mus. v. 64 In the ancient Diatonic Scale..one Semitone and two whole Tones are ordained to succeed each other invariably. |
2. In modern music, denoting the scale which in any key proceeds by the notes proper to that key without chromatic alteration; hence, applied to melodies and harmonies constructed from such a scale.
| [1597 Morley Introd. Mus. Annot., Diatonicum is that which is now in vse.] 1694 Holder Treat. Harm. (1731) 114 In Diatonic Music there is but one sort of Hemitone..whose Ration is 16 to 15. 1726 Swift It cannot rain but it pours, He sings..with equal facility in the chromatick, inharmonick, and diatonick stile. 1774 Burney Hist. Mus. (ed. 2) I. ii. 23 In modern music the Genera are but two: Diatonic and Chromatic. 1848 Rimbault First Bk. Piano 91 Diatonic, the natural scale; ascending by notes, containing five tones and two semitones. 1856 Comstock & Hoblyn Nat. Philos. (ed. 6) 234 What is called the gamut, or diatonic scale. 1876 Macfarren Harmony (ed. 2) ii. 39 The word Diatonic,—rendered through the tones by etymologists—must have been intended to signify through the uninflected notes. 1879 G. Meredith Egoist xxi. (1889) 198 Crossjay's voice ran up and down a diatonic scale. |
b. fig. Of a normal or natural sort; free from fancies or crotchets.
| 1871 Contemp. Rev. XVI. 649 The healthy diatonic nature of Mr. Hutton's chief preferences in literature. |
Hence † diaˈtonical a. Obs. = diatonic; diaˈtonically adv., in a diatonic manner.
| 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. Annot., This diuision is false in the diatonicall kind of musicke. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Diapente, The diapente is a simple concord; yet, if considered diatonically, it contains four terms. 1774 Burney Hist. Mus. I. iv. 57 Taking..two or more perfect chords of the same kind diatonically. |