assibilate

American  

[uh-sib-uh-leyt] / əˈsɪb əˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

assibilated, assibilating

1. to change into or pronounce with the accompaniment of a sibilant sound or sounds.

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verb (used without object)

assibilated, assibilating

1. to change by assibilation.

2. to become a sibilant or a sound containing a sibilant.

assibilate British  

/ əˈsɪbɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. (intr) (of a speech sound) to be changed into a sibilant

2. (tr) to pronounce (a speech sound) with or as a sibilant

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Other Word Forms

• assibilation noun
• unassibilated adjective

Etymology

Origin of assibilate

1835–45; < Latin assībilātus murmured, whispered at, hissed (past participle of assībilāre ). See as-, sibilate