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Christanford Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
Overtone/ undertone/ undercurrent
Hi teachers!
I was wondering if 'overtone' and 'undertone' were interchangeable.
For example in these two sentences:
There were politcal overtones to the point he was making.
The play does not have the political undertones of the novel.
I looked up both words in the dictionary and it says 'overtone' is usually used in the plural but says nothing in this regard for 'undertone'. So I also wonder if 'undertone' is a word often used in the plural.
When I looked up 'undertone', 'undercurrent' appeared as a synonym, but when I looked up the latter, I found that the two words were used quite in the same way.
E.g.
I detect an undercurrent of resentment towards the new proposals.
Could someone explain the differences among the three words?
Thanks in advance!
I was wondering if 'overtone' and 'undertone' were interchangeable.
For example in these two sentences:
There were politcal overtones to the point he was making.
The play does not have the political undertones of the novel.
I looked up both words in the dictionary and it says 'overtone' is usually used in the plural but says nothing in this regard for 'undertone'. So I also wonder if 'undertone' is a word often used in the plural.
When I looked up 'undertone', 'undercurrent' appeared as a synonym, but when I looked up the latter, I found that the two words were used quite in the same way.
E.g.
I detect an undercurrent of resentment towards the new proposals.
Could someone explain the differences among the three words?
Thanks in advance!
Top answer
Christanford Could someone explain the differences among the three words? I'll take a shot at it. As for "undertone/overtone" I'm not sure there is much, if any, difference.
- Christanford Could someone explain the differences among the three words?
- I'll take a shot at it.
- As for "undertone/overtone" I'm not sure there is much, if any, difference.
- ) with the implication that the artist intended the meaning being imputed.
- ) but with the implication that there is something happening that is unspoken and not necessarily intended.
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2 Answers
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ChristanfordCould someone explain the differences among the three words?I'll take a shot at it.
As for "undertone/overtone" I'm not sure there is much, if any, difference. They are both used mainly in talking about artistic endeavors (painting, sculpture, plays, novels, etc.) with the implication that the artist intended the meaning being imputed.
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