ablaut

[ ahb-lout, ab-; German ahp-lout ]

nounGrammar.
  1. (in Indo-European languages) regular alternation in the internal phonological structure of a word element, especially alternation of a vowel, that is coordinated with a change in grammatical function or combination, as in English sing, sang, sung, song; apophony.

Origin of ablaut

1
1840–50; <German, equivalent to ab- off + Laut sound

Words Nearby ablaut

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How to use ablaut in a sentence

  • The vowels vary within certain series of related vowels, called ablaut-series.

  • The strong verbs form their preterite (originally the perfect) and past participle by means of ablaut ( 12).

  • The non-reduplicated verbs are divided into six classes according to the six ablaut-series ( 12).

  • The verbs of this class belong to the sixth ablaut-series ( 12), and accordingly have a in the present; uo in the pret.

  • The verbs of this class belong to the fourth ablaut-series ( 12).

British Dictionary definitions for ablaut

ablaut

/ (ˈæblaʊt, German ˈaplaut) /


noun
  1. linguistics vowel gradation, esp in Indo-European languages: See gradation (def. 5)

Origin of ablaut

1
German, coined 1819 by Jakob Grimm from ab off + Laut sound

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