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diaeresis

[ dahy-er-uh-sis ]
/ daɪˈɛr ə sɪs /
|

noun, plural di·aer·e·ses [dahy-er-uh-seez] /daɪˈɛr əˌsiz/.

dieresis.

Nearby words

  1. diadic,
  2. diadochi,
  3. diadochokinesia,
  4. diadochy,
  5. diadromous,
  6. diaeretic,
  7. diag.,
  8. diagenesis,
  9. diagenetic,
  10. diageotropic
Related formsdi·ae·ret·ic [dahy-uh-ret-ik] /ˌdaɪ əˈrɛt ɪk/, adjective

Definition for diaeresis (2 of 2)

dieresis

or di·aer·e·sis

[ dahy-er-uh-sis ]
/ daɪˈɛr ə sɪs /

noun, plural di·er·e·ses [dahy-er-uh-seez] /daɪˈɛr əˌsiz/.

the separation of two adjacent vowels, dividing one syllable into two.
a sign (¨) placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate separate pronunciation, as in one spelling of the older forms naïve and coöperate: no longer widely used in English.
Prosody. the division made in a line or verse by coincidence of the end of a foot and the end of a word.

Origin of dieresis

1605–15; < Latin diaeresis < Greek diaíresis literally, distinction, division, equivalent to diaire-, stem of diaireîn to divide (di- di-3 + haireîn to take) + -sis -sis
Related formsdi·e·ret·ic [dahy-uh-ret-ik] /ˌdaɪ əˈrɛt ɪk/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for diaeresis

British Dictionary definitions for diaeresis (1 of 2)

diaeresis

dieresis

/ (daɪˈɛrɪsɪs) /

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)

the mark ¨, in writing placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate that it is to be pronounced separately rather than forming a diphthong with the first, as in some spellings of coöperate, naïve, etc
this mark used for any other purpose, such as to indicate that a special pronunciation is appropriate to a particular vowelCompare umlaut
a pause in a line of verse occurring when the end of a foot coincides with the end of a word
Derived Formsdiaeretic or dieretic (ˌdaɪəˈrɛtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for diaeresis

C17: from Latin diarēsis, from Greek diairesis a division, from diairein, from dia- + hairein to take; compare heresy

British Dictionary definitions for diaeresis (2 of 2)

dieresis

/ (daɪˈɛrɪsɪs) /

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)

a variant spelling of diaeresis
Derived Formsdieretic (ˌdaɪəˈrɛtɪk), adjective
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

Word Origin and History for diaeresis

dieresis

n.

also diaeresis, 1610s, "sign marking the division of a diphthong into two simple sounds," from Late Latin diaeresis, from Greek diairesis "division," noun of action from diairein "to divide, separate," from dia- "apart" (see dia-) + hairein "to take" (see heresy).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for diaeresis

dieresis

[ dī-ĕr′ĭ-sĭs ]

n.

solution of continuity
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.