internal reconstruction

American  

noun

Historical Linguistics.

1. the hypothetical reconstruction of an earlier stage of a language or of some part of it, as its phonology, by deductions from irregularities in its present structure, as the reconstruction of a stage in English when certain instances of r were related to s in a systematic way by comparing the pair was:were to other pairs, as lose:forlorn.

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Example Sentences

So far Venezelos had devoted himself to internal reconstruction, after the precedent of Trikoupis, but he was not the man to desert the national idea.

From The Balkans A History of Bulgaria—Serbia—Greece—Rumania—Turkey by Forbes, Nevill

Accordingly, in 1877 the chapel was closed, and a sum of money arising from the sale of the Guards' Institute was devoted to the purpose of a complete internal reconstruction.

From Westminster The Fascination of London by Smith, A. Murray, Mrs.

As regards the internal reconstruction of France, the case is very different.

From Political and Literary essays, 1908-1913 by Baring, Evelyn

Judicial Reforms For four years all was quiet across the Welsh Marches, and Edward was able again to turn his attention to the work of internal reconstruction.

From History of the English People, Volume II The Charter, 1216-1307; The Parliament, 1307-1400 by Green, John Richard