euphony (u fon i)

[= F. euphonie = Sp. eufonía = Pg. euphonia = It. eufonia, Euphony, which used to be appealed to as explanation [of phonetic change), is a false principle, except so far as the term may be made an idealized synonym of economy [in utterance]. Whitney, Encyc. Brit., XVIII. 773. 2028 2. Harmonious arrangement of sounds in composition; a smooth and agreeable combination of articulate elements in any piece of writing. Euphony consists, also, in a well-proportioned variety of structure in succe ive sentences. A monotonous repetition of any construction can not be made euphonious, except by singing it. A. Phelps, Eng. Style, p. 327. Syn. Euphony , Melody , Harmony , Rhythm. Euphony in style respects simply the question pleasing in the words themselves. Melody respects the succe ion of sounds, especially as affected by the pitch appropriate to the thought and required by the arrangement of clauses. Harmony respects the adaptation of sound to sense. Rhythm respects the emphasis - that is, the succe ion of emphatic and unemphatic syllables. In music melody respects the agreeable combination of succe ive sounds of various pitch, while harmony respects the agreeable blending of simultaneous sounds of different pitch, the sounds in either case being from voices or musical instruments; thus, a song for children to sing must depend for its effect upon melody rather than harmony. The Attic euphony in it, and all the aroma of age. D. G. Mitchell, Wet Days. The river that I sate upon It made such a noise as it ron, Accord aunt with the birdes armony , Me thought it was the beste melody That mighte ben yheard of any mon. Chaucer , Cuckoo and Nightingale, 1. 81. By the harmony of words we elevate the mind to a sense of devotion, as our solemn musick, which is inarticulate poesy, does in churches. Dryden, Tyrannic Love, Pref. Ourself have often tried Valkyr i an hymns, or into rhythm have dash'd The pa ion of the prophete . Tennyson, Prince , iv.