diachrony

American  

[dahy-ak-ruh-nee] / daɪˈæk rə ni /

noun

plural

diachronies

1. historical change.

2. Linguistics.

   1. the study of a linguistic system through comparison of different points in its history; a diachronic approach to language study.

      The analysis emphasizes diachrony as a means for understanding sound systems.

   2. change or development in a linguistic system over a period of time.

      The diachrony of the language suggests that the bare form was the original.

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Etymology

Origin of diachrony

First recorded in 1955–60; diachron(ic) + -y ³