polyphone

[pol-ee-fohn]

noun

Phonetics.

1. a polyphonic letter or symbol.

polyphone

/ ˈpɒlɪˌfəʊn /

noun

1. a letter or character having more than one phonetic value, such as English c, pronounced ( k ) before a, o, or u or ( s ) before e or i

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyphone¹

From the Greek word polýphōnos, dating back to 1645–55. See poly-, -phone

Example Sentences

We contemporary men feel exactly the opposite: the richer man now feels himself inwardly, the more polyphone the music and the sounding of his soul, the more powerfully does the uniformity of nature impress him.

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Hanging on the partition near the polyphone was a board about fifteen inches square, over the surface of which were distributed a number of small hooks, numbered.

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The Old Dear now put a penny in the slot of the polyphone, and winding it up started it playing.

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While they were pouring this down their throats, Crass took a penny from his waistcoat pocket and put it in the slot of the polyphone.

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He had had six and a half pints of beer, and had listened to two selections on the polyphone at a total cost of one penny.

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