a. and sb. [In A and B 1 f. SUB- 19, in B 2 f. SUB- 13.] A. adj. Phonetics. (See quot.)

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1833.  J. Rush, Philos. Human Voice (ed. 2), 54. A number of sounds, possessing … properties analogous to those of the tonics; but differing in degree…. From their inferiority to the tonics,… whilst they admit of being intonated or carried concretely through the intervals of pitch, I have called them Subtonic sounds. Ibid. Some of the subtonic vocalities are purely nasal, as: m, n, ng, b, d, g.

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  B.  sb.

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  1.  Phonetics. A ‘subtonic’ sound.

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1833.  J. Rush, Philos. Human Voice (ed. 2), 55. This vocality of the subtonics … is variously modified by the nose, tongue, teeth and lips.

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  2.  Mus. The semitone immediately below the upper tonic of a scale; the leading note.

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1854.  J. W. Moore, Encycl. Music.

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1889.  E. Prout, Harmony, i. § 13. The seventh note of the scale … is sometimes … called the ‘Subtonic.’

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