a. [f. TUNE sb. + -FUL.]
1. Full of ‘tune’ or musical sound; musical, sweet-sounding.
1598. Marston, Sco. Villanie, Ad rithmum (1599), 194. In tunefull numbers keeping musicks time.
1697. Prior, Sat. Mod. Translators, 120. The just Measure of a tuneful Dance.
a. 1764. Lloyd, Actor, Poet. Wks. 1774, I. 22. The tunelul voice, the eye that spoke the mind.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, IV. xi. His bright and brief career is o’er, And mute his tuneful strains.
1843. G. P. R. James, Forest Days, iii. It was a time of year when the whole world was tuneful.
2. Producing or yielding musical sounds; making melody; performing or skilled in music; musical (as a person, instrument, etc.).
1591. Spenser, Teares of Muses, 27. The trembling streames … were by them right tunefull taught to beare A Bases part amongst their consorts oft.
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. I. Trophies, 416. With his tunefull Lyre, Expels th’ ill Spirit which doth the body tyre.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 290. With chaunt of tuneful Birds resounding loud.
1693. Yalden, Ode to Congreve, v. From tuneful Chaucer’s down to thy own Dryden’s Muse.
1704. Prior, Lett. to Despreaux, 18. When thy young Muse invok’d the tuneful Nine.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, I. Introd. i. For, well-a-day! their date was fled, His tuneful brethren all were dead.
1878. H. S. Leigh, Town Garland, 10. I listen, contented and calm, to a band Of the tuneful Teutonics who favour the Strand.
3. Relating or adapted to music.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., IX. 44. A Member of the tuneful trade.
1762–77. Sir W. Jones, Arcadia, Poems (1777), 105. Ev’n Pan thy tuneful skill confess’d.
1842. Whittier, Raphael, xviii. Think ye the notes of holy song On Milton’s tuneful ear have died?
Hence Tunefully adv., in a tuneful manner, with sweet sound, musically; Tunefulness, tuneful or musical quality.
1638–56. Cowley, Davideis, I. 476. Storehouse of all Proportions! single Quire! Which first God’s Breath did tunefully inspire!
1798. Wordsw., Peter Bell, Prol. xv. How tunefully the forests ring!
1882. Ogilvie, Tunefulness.
1893. L. S. Keyser, in Chicago Advance, 3 Aug. A song sparrow … taking the bays for real tunefulness from every rival.
