subtonic, a. and n.
(sʌbˈtɒnɪk)
[In A and B 1 f. sub- 19, in B 2 f. sub- 13.]
A. adj. Phonetics. (See quot.)
| 1833 J. Rush Philos. Human Voice (ed. 2) 54 A number of sounds, possessing..properties analogous to those of the tonics; but differing in degree... From their inferiority to the tonics,..whilst they admit of being intonated or carried concretely through the intervals of pitch, I have called them Subtonic sounds. Ibid., Some of the subtonic vocalities are purely nasal, as: m, n, ng, b, d, g. |
B. n.
1. Phonetics. A ‘subtonic’ sound.
| 1833 J. Rush Philos. Human Voice (ed. 2) 55 This vocality of the subtonics..is variously modified by the nose, tongue, teeth and lips. |
2. Mus. The note a semitone immediately below the upper tonic of a scale; the leading note.
| 1854 Moore Compl. Cycl. Music. 1889 E. Prout Harmony i. §13 The seventh note of the scale..is sometimes..called the ‘Subtonic’. |