rough breathing

noun

1. the symbol (ʿ) used in the writing of Greek to indicate aspiration of the initial vowel or of the ρ (rho) over which it is placed.

2. the aspirated sound indicated by this mark.

rough breathing

noun

1. (in Greek) the sign ( ) placed over an initial letter, or a second letter if the word begins with a diphthong, indicating that (in ancient Greek) it was pronounced with an h Compare smooth breathing

Word History and Origins

Origin of rough breathing¹

1740–50; translation of Latin spiritus asper

Example Sentences

It was groans and rough breathing mixed up with the same noise that the chain on the dog outside had made.

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The one exception is the rough breathing before Ἀνδρασι in footnote 17, which should be a smooth breathing.

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It has also no “rough breathing,” but this characteristic it shared with the Ionic of Asia Minor, and in the course of time with other dialects.

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Before vowels at the beginning, or between vowels in the middle of words, it passed into an h sound, the “rough breathing.”

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One rough breathing is just visible in that early palimpsest of St. John's Gospel, Ib or Nb.

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