smooth breathing
noun
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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Nearby words
- smoochy,
- smoodge,
- smoosh,
- smooth,
- smooth as silk,
- smooth collie,
- smooth diet,
- smooth dogfish,
- smooth endoplasmic reticulum,
- smooth fox terrier
Compare rough breathing.
Origin of smooth breathing
First recorded in 1740–50
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
smooth breathing
noun
(in Greek) the sign (᾿) placed over an initial vowel, indicating that (in ancient Greek) it was not pronounced with an hCompare rough breathing
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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