Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “atonalist” come from?

atonalist (English) comes from English atonal, from English tonal, from English tone, from Middle English tone, from Latin tonus, from Ancient Greek τόνος, from Proto-Hellenic tónos, from Proto-Indo-European tónos — to stretch, to extend.

atonalist (English): A composer of atonal music

Definitions

  1. A composer of atonal music

Ancestry of “atonalist”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishatonalLacking a tonal center or key; Not tonal, lacking...
2EnglishtonalOf or relating to tones or tonality; Of or...
3EnglishtoneA specific pitch; An interval of a major second;...
4Middle Englishtonethe one
5LatintonusThe stretching or straining of a rope; A strain;...
6Ancient Greekτόνοςrope, cord; chord; tone, note
7Proto-Hellenictónosrope, cord; tension
8Proto-Indo-Europeantónossomething stretched; chord, fiber, string
9Proto-Indo-Europeanten-to stretch, to extend
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ten- →