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assibilate

[uh-sib-uh-leyt]Phonetics
verb (used with object), as·sib·i·lat·ed, as·sib·i·lat·ing.
  1. to change into or pronounce with the accompaniment of a sibilant sound or sounds.
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verb (used without object), as·sib·i·lat·ed, as·sib·i·lat·ing.
  1. to change by assibilation.
  2. to become a sibilant or a sound containing a sibilant.
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Origin of assibilate

1835–45; < Latin assībilātus murmured, whispered at, hissed (past participle of assībilāre). See as-, sibilate
Related formsas·sib·i·la·tion, nounun·as·sib·i·lat·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for assibilate

assibilate

verb phonetics
  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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Derived Formsassibilation, noun

Word Origin

C19: from Late Latin assībilāre to hiss at, from sībilāre to hiss; see sibilant
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