baritone
Meaning
A man's singing voice between tenor and bass, or a singer with such a voice.
A brass instrument similar to a euphonium, or a member of a family of instruments (e.g., baritone saxophone, baritone horn).
Structure
Usage
His rich baritone voice was perfect for the aria.
She plays the baritone saxophone in the jazz ensemble.
The choir is lacking a strong baritone for the harmony parts.
Etymology
The word 'baritone' is a direct loan from Italian baritono, which itself was constructed from Greek elements to describe a specific vocal quality. The first element, from Greek barys (heavy), refers to the weight and depth of the voice. The second element, from Greek tonos (tone or tension), specifies it as a type of sound or pitch. Thus, the term literally means "deep-toned," logically describing a male voice that is heavier and lower than a tenor but not as deep as a bass, a classification that became formalized in Western music between the 17th and 19th centuries.
Analysis
bari: From Greek barys, meaning "heavy, deep, low." tone: From Greek tonos, via Latin tonus, meaning "sound, pitch, tone."