undertone
/ˈʌndə(ɹ)təʊn/ noun C1- An auditory tone of low pitch or volume.
- An implicit message perceived subtly alongside, but not detracting noticeably from, the explicit message conveyed in or by a book, film, speech or similar (contrast with overtone); an undercurrent.
- A pale colour, or one seen underneath another colour.
- A low state of the physical faculties.
Plural undertones
From the library
Two persons passed near me—allow me to conceal their names for the present; they were speaking in an undertone, and yet I was so interested in what they said that I did not lose a single word.”
Noirtier wishes to see you tonight, he said, in an undertone.
Beauchamp took the paper, and read the article to which Albert pointed in an undertone.
Was it my imagination that there was an undertone of fear rather than of hope in the question?
Other matches
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