Tonicize (/ˈtɒnɪsaɪz/) is a word that is spelled phonetically. It comes from the root word "tonic," which means something that strengthens or invigorates. The -ize suffix is a common way to create verbs in English. The pronunciation of tonicize is straightforward, with the stress falling on the second syllable. The word is not commonly used in everyday language, but it may be heard in musical contexts, such as when discussing the process of turning a note or chord into a tonic.
Tonicize is a verb that refers to the action of giving tonic effect or character to something. It is often used in reference to music or to describe the process of altering a musical composition or passage to create a sense of tension and resolution. When a piece of music is tonicized, there is a temporary shift in harmony or key signature that adds a different emotional color or intensity to the overall composition.
In music theory, tonicization involves emphasizing a particular chord or note that is not in the current key in order to momentarily establish a new musical tonic. This technique is commonly used to create temporary harmonic deviations or to introduce new melodic directions. Tonicization allows composers and arrangers to add variety and complexity to their musical works, as well as elicit specific emotional responses from the listeners.
Outside of music, the term tonicize may also be used more broadly to describe the act of invigorating or energizing something. For example, one might say that a particular event or speech tonicized the morale of a group, suggesting that it had a rejuvenating or revitalizing effect on their spirits. Overall, tonicize is a verb that encompasses the act of giving something a tonic effect, be it in music or in a broader sense of invigoration or revitalization.
To produce tone or tension in a part; to cause tonic contraction of a muscle.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "tonicize" is derived from the noun "tonic" and the suffix "-ize".
The noun "tonic" comes from the Latin word "tonicus", which originates from the Greek word "tonikos" meaning "of or for stretching". In medical terminology, a tonic is a substance that invigorates, stimulates, or strengthens the body or a specific organ. In music theory, a tonic is the first note of a scale and serves as the foundation or key center for a musical composition.
The suffix "-ize" comes from Greek and was commonly used in English to form verbs from nouns or adjectives, indicating the act or process of making, becoming, or treating something in a specific way.