[Harmony divine] smooths her charming tones. Milton.

Tones that with seraph hymns might blend. Keble.

Eager his tone, and ardent were his eyes. Dryden.

* In this sense, the word is metaphorically applied to character or faculties, intellectual and moral; as, his mind has lost its tone.

The strange situation I am in and the melancholy state of public affairs, . . . drag the mind down . . . from a philosophical tone or temper, to the drudgery of private and public business. Bolingbroke.

Their tone was dissatisfied, almost menacing. W. C. Bryant.

Tone color. (Mus.) see the Note under def. 4, above. -- Tone syllable, an accented syllable. M. Stuart.

To tone down. (a) To cause to give lower tone or sound; to give a lower tone to. (b) (Paint.) To modify, as color, by making it less brilliant or less crude; to modify, as a composition of color, by making it more harmonius.

Its thousand hues toned down harmoniusly. C. Kingsley.

(c) Fig.: To moderate or relax; to diminish or weaken the striking characteristics of; to soften.

The best method for the purpose in hand was to employ some one of a character and position suited to get possession of their confidence, and then use it to tone down their religious strictures. Palfrey.

-- To tone up, to cause to give a higher tone or sound; to give a higher tone to; to make more intense; to heighten; to strengthen.

She was dressed in a soft cloth of a gray tone. Sir G. Parker.