different between leitmotif vs tonic

English

Alternative forms

• leitmotiv, leit-motif

Etymology

From German Leitmotiv (“leading motif”), from leiten (“to lead”) + Motiv (“motif”), originally used to describe Wagnerian opera.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?la?t.m???ti?f/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?la?t.mo??tif/, nonstandard IPA^(key): /?le?t.mo??tif/

Noun

leitmotif (plural leitmotifs)

1. (music) A melodic theme associated with a particular character, place, thing or idea in an opera.
2. (by extension) A recurring theme.

   Synonym: common thread

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• tonick (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?t?n?k/
• Rhymes: -?n?k

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek ??????? (tonikós), from ????? (tónos). 17th century writers believed health to be derived from firmly stretched muscles, thus tonic; the extension of tonic medicine appeared in the late 18th century. Surface analysis as classical compound: tone +? -ic.

Adjective

tonic (comparative more tonic, superlative most tonic)

1. (physics, pathology) Pertaining to tension, especially of muscles.
   • 2009, Thomas Pynchon, Inherent Vice, Vintage 2010, p. 316:

     Out in front and across the street, Doc noted half a dozen or so young men, not loitering or doing substances but poised and tonic, as if waiting for some standing order to take effect.

2. Restorative, curative or invigorating.

   The arrival of the new members had a tonic effect on the team.

Translations

Noun

tonic (plural tonics)

1. A substance with medicinal properties intended to restore or invigorate.

   We used to brew a tonic from a particular kind of root.

2. Tonic water.
3. (US, Massachusetts) Any of various carbonated, non-alcoholic beverages; soda pop.
4. (figuratively) Someone or something that revitalises or reinvigorates.

   The arrival of the new members had a tonic effect on the team.

   • 2011, Cathy Kelly, She's the One

     'You're a tonic, Dee,' she said. 'And a real friend. Thanks.'

Translations

Etymology 2

From tone +? -ic.

Adjective

tonic (not comparable)

1. (music) Pertaining to or based upon the first note of a diatonic scale.
2. Pertaining to the accent or stress in a word or in speech.
3. Of or relating to tones or sounds; specifically (phonetics, dated) being or relating to a speech sound made with tone unmixed and undimmed by obstruction, i.e. a vowel or diphthong.

Noun

tonic (plural tonics)

1. (music) The first note of a diatonic scale; the keynote.
2. (music) The triad built on the tonic note.
3. (phonetics) A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.

Related terms

• tonal center

Translations

Anagrams

• ontic

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English tonic, from tonic water

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t?.nik/
• Homophones: tonics, tonique, toniques

Noun

tonic m (plural tonics)

1. drink made up mainly of cinchona
2. tonic water

Further reading

• “tonic” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Romanian

Etymology

From French tonique.

Noun

tonic n (plural tonici)

1. tonic

Declension