tone

[peter123]

Hi there,

What is the difference between 'undertone' and 'overtone'? It seems that they both mean something that is suggested but not clearly stated.

Thanks
pete

 

[shalstudent]

Undetone:

1. Spoken in low voice or a hushed voice.

Example: " Let's go out and eat today without's mother's knowlegde", said Amy, in a hushed voice(In an undertone), to her brother.

2. A Pale subdued colour- Though she recovered after her illneess, her skin still looked pale (Her skin had an undertone to it).

Overtone: an ulterior implicit meaning or quality.

Example: " You look very pretty today", praised Amy with overtones of envy.

"I should have listened to her" , he said with overtones of despair.