dissimilation
[dih-sim-uh-ley-shuh n]
- the act of making or becoming unlike.
- Phonetics. the process by which a speech sound becomes different from or less like a neighboring sound, as pilgrim [pil-grim] /ˈpɪl grɪm/ from Latin peregrīnus [per-e-gree-noo s] /ˌpɛr ɛˈgri nʊs/, and purple [pur-puh l] /ˈpɜr pəl/ from Old English purpure [poo r-poo-re] /ˈpʊər pʊ rɛ/, or disappears entirely because of a like sound in another syllable, as in the pronunciation [guhv-uh-ner] /ˈgʌv ə nər/ for governor.Compare assimilation(def 7).
- Biology. catabolism.
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Origin of dissimilation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for dissimilation
Historical Examples
The female name Annabel is a dissimilation of Amabel, whence Mabel.
The Romance of Words (4th ed.)Ernest Weekley
Three of the most important of these are assimilation, dissimilation, and metathesis.
The Romance of Words (4th ed.)Ernest Weekley
Dissimilation is first found in philological works published in the decade 1874-85.
English Past and PresentRichard Chevenix Trench
In the family name Hansom, for Hanson, we have dissimilation of n (see p. 57).
The Romance of Words (4th ed.)Ernest Weekley
Let us first of all glance at some of the most important phenomena in connection with assimilation and dissimilation.
An Introduction to PsychologyWilhelm Max Wundt
dissimilation
- the act or an instance of making dissimilar
- phonetics the alteration or omission of a consonant as a result of being dissimilated
- biology a less common word for catabolism
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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 dissimilation
n.
1874, noun of action from dissimilate.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper