Synaeresis

Synaeresis

In linguistics, synaeresis (Greek συναίρεσις) is the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong (or long vowel). If synaeresis is used against convention, it may serve as a rhetorical figure (a metaplasm). The opposite phenomenon is known as diaeresis.

In historical linguistics, such contractions often result after the regular loss of a consonant that used to separate the two vowels. In this case, the resulting vowel or diphthong will typically carry a circumflex intonation.

ee also

*Synalepha
*Contraction (grammar)
*Diaeresis
*Crasis


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  • Synaeresis — Syn*[ae]r e*sis, Syneresis Syn*er e*sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? a taking or drawing together, fr. ? to take together; sy n with + ? to take, to grasp. See {Syn }, and {Heresy}.] (Gram.) The union, or drawing together into one syllable, of two vowels… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • synaeresis — var of SYNERESIS …   Medical dictionary

  • synaeresis — n. (US syneresis) (pl. synaereses) the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong or single vowel. Etymology: LL f. Gk sunairesis (as SYN , hairesis f. haireo take) * * * noun 1. the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong • Syn: ↑syneresis •… …   Useful english dictionary

  • synaeresis — /si ner euh sis/, n. Phonet. 1. the contraction of two syllables or two vowels into one, esp. the contraction of two vowels so as to form a diphthong. 2. synizesis. Also, syneresis. [1570 80; < LL < Gk synaíresis act of taking together, equiv. to …   Universalium

  • synaeresis — noun a) the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong or a long vowel. b) the separating out of the liquid from a gel …   Wiktionary

  • synaeresis — n. (Linguistics) contraction of two consecutive vowels into one syllable (especially to form a diphthong) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • synaeresis — syn•aer•e•sis [[t]sɪˈnɛr ə sɪs[/t]] n. phn syneresis …   From formal English to slang

  • synaeresis — /sɪˈnɪərəsəs/ (say si nearruhsuhs) noun 1. the contraction of two syllables or two vowels into one; especially the contraction of two vowels so as to form a diphthong (opposed to dieresis). 2. synizesis. Also, syneresis. {Late Latin, from Greek… …  

  • synaeresis —   n. pronunciation as one of two vowels usually pronounced separately …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • Syneresis — Synaeresis Syn*[ae]r e*sis, Syneresis Syn*er e*sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? a taking or drawing together, fr. ? to take together; sy n with + ? to take, to grasp. See {Syn }, and {Heresy}.] (Gram.) The union, or drawing together into one syllable, of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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