dissimilation

[ dih-sim-uh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of making or becoming unlike.
2. Phonetics. the process by which a speech sound becomes different from or less like a neighboring sound, as pilgrim [pil, -grim] from Latin peregrīnus [pe, r, -e-, gree, -n, oo, s], and purple [pur, -p, uh, l] from Old English purpure [poor, -p, oo, -, r, e], or disappears entirely because of a like sound in another syllable, as in the pronunciation [guhv, -, uh, -ner] for governor. Compare assimilation ( def 7 ).
3. Biology. catabolism.

dissimilation

/ ˌdɪsɪmɪˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of making dissimilar
2. phonetics the alteration or omission of a consonant as a result of being dissimilated
3. See catabolism
   biology a less common word for catabolism

Word History and Origins

Origin of dissimilation¹

First recorded in 1820–30; dis- ¹ + (as)similation

Example Sentences

The sounds most frequently affected by dissimilation are those represented by the letters l, n, and r. Fr.

From Project Gutenberg

We have seen (p. 57) that the letters l, n, r are particularly subject to dissimilation and metathesis.

From Project Gutenberg

In the family name Hansom, for Hanson, we have dissimilation of n (see p. 57).

From Project Gutenberg

Let us first of all glance at some of the most important phenomena in connection with assimilation and dissimilation.

From Project Gutenberg

To cause the opposite process of dissimilation, we draw one large sector among several smaller sectors.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attitude
• performance
• show