epenthesis

American  

[uh-pen-thuh-sis] / əˈpɛn θə sɪs /

noun

• epentheses
  plural

1. the insertion of one or more sounds in the middle of a word, as the schwa in the nonstandard pronunciation of elm.

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epenthesis British  

/ ɛˈpɛnθɪsɪs /

noun

1. the insertion of a sound or letter into a word

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• epenthetic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• epentheses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of epenthesis

1650–60; < Late Latin: insertion of a letter < Greek epénthesis equivalent to ep- ep- + en- en- ² + thésis placing; see thesis

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

epenthesis

This, by an aphaeresis of tau and an epenthesis of omicron in two places, may be identified with echonoe, and signifies 'that which has mind.'

From Cratylus by Benjamin Jowett

Apheresis Ablatio, the takynge awaye of a letter or sillable from the begynnynge of a worde, of a letter, when we say: The pẽthesis of thys house is to low, for the epenthesis.

From A Treatise of Schemes and Tropes by Herbert William Hildebrandt

But epenthesis of a consonant is more common, especially b or p after m, and d after n.

From The Romance of Names by Ernest Weekley

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