paragoge

[par-uh-goh-jee]

noun

1. the addition of a sound or group of sounds at the end of a word, as in the nonstandard pronunciation of height as height-th or once as once-t.

paragoge

/ ˌpærəˈɡəʊdʒɪ, ˌpærəˈɡɒdʒɪk, ˈpærəˌɡɒɡ /

noun

1. the addition of a sound or a syllable to the end of a word, such as st in amongst

Other Word Forms

• paragogically adverb
• paragogic adjective
• paragogical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paragoge¹

1650–60; < Late Latin paragōgē addition to a word, lengthening of a word < Greek paragōgḗ a leading by, alteration, change, derivative of parágein to lead by, past. See para- ¹, -agogue

Word History and Origins

Origin of paragoge¹

C17: via Late Latin from Greek paragōgē an alteration, ultimately from paragein to lead past, change

Example Sentences

Paragoge, par-a-gō′jē, n. the addition of a letter or a syllable to the end of a word, as amidst for amid, generical for generic—also called epithesis and ecstasis, as opposed to prosthesis and apocope.—adjs.

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At this moment Gabriel Hamburg was speaking of paragoge in Hebrew grammar, but his voice faltered and in imagination he was laying hands of paternal benediction on Joseph Strelitski's head.

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