spirant
Americannoun
adjective
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of spirant
1865–70; < Latin spīrant- (stem of spīrāns, present participle of spīrāre to breathe); 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.
When the lips are not tightly closed the sound produced is not a stop, but a spirant like the English w.
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 Flom, George Tobias
It is classed as a surd spirant, its corresponding sonant spirant being v, which is distinguished from f by being pronounced with voice instead of breath, as may be perceived by pronouncing ef, ev.
From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 3: Estremoz to Felspar by Various
G is the soft spirant, not used in English.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various
Hue, foedat quos lepra, urit quos febris, adeste, Dia salutares spirant medicamina rami; Hic requies fessis: non sacra sacvit in umbra Vis boreae gelida, aut rapidi violeutia solis.
From Dr. Johnson's Works: Life, Poems, and Tales, Volume 1 The Works of Samuel Johnson, Ll.D., in Nine Volumes by Johnson, Samuel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
