tone Copy link Outline I. Lit.1. tŏnus2. expr. by vox3. sŏnusII. Fig.III. Of colour1. tŏnus2. Fig. • tone: I. Lit.: 1. tŏnus: Vitr.: Macr. 2. expr. by vox: to speak in a loud t., magna v. dicere, Caes. B. G. 4, 25: a sharp t., v. acuta, Cic. Or. 18, 58: v. voice. 3. sŏnus: from the highest t. to the lowest, ab acutissimo s. usque ad gravissimum s., Cic. de Or. 1, 51, 251: v. sound. Phr.: to speak in a low t., submisse dicere, Cic. de Or. 2, 53, 215. II. Fig.: manner of speaking or behaviour: Phr.: he changes his t., mutat personam, vertit allocutionem, Plin. Ep. 2, 20, 8: to adopt a lofty t., magnifice, superbe, loqui: Cic. III. Of colour: 1. tŏnus: Plin. 35, 5, 11. 2. Fig.: cŏlōr, ōris: whatever may be the t. of my life, quisquis erit vitae c., Hor. S. 2, 1, 60: v. character.