undertoning

Verb

undertone (third-person singular simple present undertones, present participle undertoning, simple past and past participle undertoned)

1. To accompany as an undertone.
   • The Missionary's address rolled on in choppy Chinook, undertoned by a gentle voice from the back of the room which told Tanook in pure Indian words what he was to do.1941, Emily Carr, chapter 1, in Klee Wyck
2. To say or speak in an undertone.
   • Evan paid no attention to him, and answered none of his hasty undertoned questions.1861, George Meredith, Evan Harrington, Chapter 30, Part 1
3. To present as less important, noticeable or prominent.
   • Men rarely make this mistake, their habitual blunder being to undertone everything, to make too light of Julia's new frock, and Johnnie's symptoms of measles, and the way they waste things down stairs.1866, {unattributed}, Littell's Living Age - Volume 88 - Page 427

   Synonyms:

   de-emphasize, downplay

See all 7 meanings of undertone