what is the meaning of the word tone?

the feeling a word evokes

the words writers use to support their purpose

the writer's attitude toward the subject

a bitter expression that often means the opposite

The meaning of the word "tone" can refer to all of the options you mentioned, depending on the context. In literature and writing, "tone" usually refers to the writer's attitude toward the subject or the overall mood created by the author. However, it can also refer to the feelings a word evokes or the words writers use to support their purpose. The fourth option you mentioned, "a bitter expression that often means the opposite," is not a commonly accepted definition of tone.