tuneful, a.
(ˈtjuːnfʊl)
[f. tune n. + -ful.]
1. Full of ‘tune’ or musical sound; musical, sweet-sounding.
| 1598 Marston Sco. Villanie, Ad rithmum (1599) 194 In tunefull numbers keeping musicks time. 1697 Prior Sat. Mod. Translators 120 The just Measure of a tuneful Dance. a 1764 Lloyd Actor Poet. Wks. 1774 I. 22 The tuneful voice, the eye that spoke the mind. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles iv. xi, His bright and brief career is o'er, And mute his tuneful strains. 1843 James Forest Days iii, It was a time of year when the whole world was tuneful. |
2. Producing or yielding musical sounds; making melody; performing or skilled in music; musical (as a person, instrument, etc.).
| 1591 Spenser Teares of Muses 27 The trembling streames..were by them right tunefull taught to beare A Bases part amongst their consorts oft. 1606 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. i. Trophies 416 With his tunefull Lyre, Expels th' ill Spirit which doth the body tyre. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 290 With chaunt of tuneful Birds resounding loud. 1693 Yalden Ode to Congreve v, From tuneful Chaucer's down to thy own Dryden's Muse. 1704 Prior Let. to Despreaux 18 When thy young Muse invok'd the tuneful Nine. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. i. Introd. i, For, well-a-day! their date was fled, His tuneful brethren all were dead. 1878 H. S. Leigh Town Garland 10, I listen, contented and calm, to a band Of the tuneful Teutonics who favour the Strand. |
3. Relating or adapted to music.
| 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. ix. 44 A Member of the tuneful trade. 1762–77 Sir W. Jones Arcadia Poems (1777) 105 Ev'n Pan thy tuneful skill confess'd. 1842 Whittier Raphael xviii, Think ye the notes of holy song On Milton's tuneful ear have died? |
Hence ˈtunefully adv., in a tuneful manner, with sweet sound, musically; ˈtunefulness, tuneful or musical quality.
| 1638–56 Cowley Davideis i. 476 Storehouse of all Proportions! single Quire! Which first God's Breath did tunefully inspire! 1798 Wordsw. Peter Bell Prol. xv, How tunefully the forests ring! 1882 Ogilvie, Tunefulness. 1893 L. S. Keyser in Chicago Advance 3 Aug., A song sparrow..taking the bays for real tunefulness from every rival. |