progressive assimilation

American

noun

Phonetics.

assimilation in which a preceding sound has an effect on a following one, as in shortening captain to cap'm rather than cap'n.

Etymology

Origin of progressive assimilation

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Say in a few hours' hard work, spread over several weeks to permit progressive assimilation without conscious disturbances.

From Legacy by Schmitz, James H.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023