What does tonically mean?
Tonically is an adverb formed from tonic, and its meaning depends on what kind of tonic is meant. In music, to act or resolve tonically is to establish or return to the tonic, the note on which a key is based. A melody may end by resolving tonically, or a chord may be described as tonically related to another. In physiology, tonically describes a muscle that maintains some degree of contraction rather than being completely relaxed; smooth muscle, for example, may remain tonically contracted. A more general use means “in a tonic manner,” especially “in a manner that restores vigour or tone,” though this is uncommon in ordinary prose. Tonically is therefore useful chiefly in specialized discussion of music and muscle physiology. It should not be confused with tonally, which concerns tonality—the organization of a passage around tones—rather than the tonic specifically. Although transparent in its formation from tonic plus -ly, tonically is relatively uncommon, so context often determines whether music or bodily muscle tone is intended.
adverbIn a manner relating to a musical tonic or to sustained physiological muscle tone; in music, with reference to establishing or returning to the tonic. More generally, in an invigorating or restorative manner.
- With respect to the tonic of a musical key, especially in a way that establishes or returns to that tonic.
- With respect to physiological muscle tone, especially in a state of sustained or continuous contraction.
- In a tonic, invigorating, or restorative manner.
"The final cadence settles tonically in the key of D major."
"The final cadence settles tonically in the key of D major."
"Smooth muscle in the walls of blood vessels remains tonically contracted."
Tonically does double duty: it can send a melody home to its key and keep a muscle from going slack.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tonically come from?
Tonically was formed in English from tonic with the adverbial suffix -ly. Tonic came through French tonique from Latin tonicus, which derives from Greek tonikos, meaning “pertaining to tone or stretching,” ultimately from tonos, “tone, stretching, or pitch.” The same root appears in related words such as tonal, tonality, and tonus, the last of which preserves the source idea of physical tone.
How tonically is actually used
The musical sense occurs chiefly in harmonic analysis, while the physiological sense is used in anatomy, physiology, and related fields. The generalized sense meaning invigorating or restorative is relatively uncommon in modern English. Tonically is not normally used in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with tonically
Tonically refers directly to a tonic—a key's central note or a muscle's maintained tension—whereas tonally means with respect to tonality and is commonly used to describe harmonic organization.