Monotone
/ˈmɒn.ə.toʊn/noun
A single unvaried tone or pitch; also, speech or music lacking variation.
Did you know?The word entered English through French from Greek roots meaning “one” and “sound/tone,” making it a clean example of how ancient speech can lock a voice into a single vibration.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*men-
“to think, remember, intend”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μόνος (mónos)
“alone, single”
Ancient Greek
Greek
τόνος (tónos)
“stretch, pitch, tone of voice or music”
Late Latin
Latin
monotonus
“having one tone; unvaried in sound”
Middle French
French
monotone
“monotonous sound or speech”
17th Century
English
monotone
“one unvaried tone or pitch”