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spirant

American  
[spahy-ruhnt] / ˈspaɪ rənt /

noun

  1. fricative.


adjective

  1. Also spirantal fricative.

spirant British  
/ ˈspaɪrənt /

adjective

  1. phonetics another word for fricative

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a fricative consonant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spirant

1865–70; < Latin spīrant- (stem of spīrāns, present participle of spīrāre to breathe); see spirit, -ant

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.

See Examples For:

Waith, O. N. væiðr, has kept the spirant, but faid, a "company of hunters," has changed it to d.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by George Tobias Flom

The spirant th corresponding to O. N. ð, and O. E. d.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by George Tobias Flom

Fie for Shame; I can't forbear making Use of that Expression of the Satyrist, Tunc immensa cavi spirant mendacia folles.

From Colloquies of Erasmus, Volume I. by Desiderius Erasmus

In Late Latin there was a tendency to this spirant pronunciation which appears as early as the beginning of the 2nd century A.D.; by the 3rd century b and consonantal u are inextricably confused.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 1 "Austria, Lower" to "Bacon" by Various

The Sco. garth has changed the original voiced spirant to a voiceless one.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by George Tobias Flom

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