anaptyxis

[an-uh p-tik-sis, an-ap-]

noun, plural an·ap·tyx·es [an-uh p-tik-seez, an-ap-] /ˌæn əpˈtɪk siz, ˌæn æp-/.

epenthesis of a vowel.

Origin of anaptyxis

1880–85; < New Latin < Greek, equivalent to anaptyk- (stem of anaptýssein to unfold, equivalent to ana- ana- + ptýssein to fold) + -sis -sis

Related formsan·ap·tyc·tic

[an-uh p-tik-tik, an-ap-] /ˌæn əpˈtɪk tɪk, ˌæn æp-/, an·ap·tyc·ti·cal, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for anaptyxis

anaptyxis

noun plural -tyxes (-ˈtɪksiːz)

the insertion of a short vowel between consonants in order to make a word more easily pronounceable

Derived Formsanaptyctic (ˌænæpˈtɪktɪk) or anaptyctical, adjective

Word Origin for anaptyxis

C19: via New Latin from Greek anaptuxis, from anaptussein to unfold, from ana- + ptussein to fold

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012