smooth breathing

American  

noun

1. a symbol (') used in the writing of Greek to indicate that the initial vowel over which it is placed is unaspirated.

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smooth breathing British  

noun

1. (in Greek) the sign (᾿) placed over an initial vowel, indicating that (in ancient Greek) it was not pronounced with an h Compare rough breathing

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Etymology

Origin of smooth breathing

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

Initial ρ and υ always take the rough breathing; and double ρ in the middle of a word takes the smooth breathing on the first, and the rough on the second.

From Greek in a Nutshell by Strong, James

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

From The Life and Writings of Henry Fuseli, Volume I (of 3) by Knowles, John

The Greek aspirate was itself the first or left-hand half of this letter , while the smooth breathing ’ was the right-hand portion .

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 "Gyantse" to "Hallel" by Various