vowel point

American  

noun

1. any of a group of auxiliary symbols, as small lines and dots, placed above or below consonant symbols to indicate vowels in a writing system, as that of Hebrew or Arabic, in which vowels are otherwise not written.

---

vowel point British  

noun

1. any of several marks or points placed above or below consonants, esp those evolved for Hebrew or Arabic, in order to indicate vowel sounds

---

Etymology

Origin of vowel point

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

One who maintains that points of the Hebrew word translated ½Jehovah¸ are really the vowel points of the word ½Adonai.¸

From Project Gutenberg

The vowel points by which Hebrew is now read are demonstrably a modern invention.

From Project Gutenberg

Our English “Jehovah” contains the forbidden consonants of Yahweh and the vowel points of Adonai.

From Project Gutenberg

In the meantime, the true pronunciation of the Hebrew proper names could have been preserved in some of the translations made long before the Masoretic doctors supplied their vowel points.

From Project Gutenberg

Probably the idea of providing vowel points was borrowed from the Syrians.

From Project Gutenberg