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rhotacism

 - 3 dictionary results

rho⋅ta⋅cism

  [roh-tuh-siz-uhm]
Use rhotacism in a Sentence
–noun
1. Historical Linguistics. a change of a speech sound, esp. (s), to (r), as in the change from Old Latin lases to Latin lares.
2. excessive use of the sound (r), its misarticulation, or the substitution of another sound for it.
Origin:
1825–35; < Gk rhô rho + (io)tacism

Related forms:
rho⋅ta⋅cis⋅tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

rhotacism 
1834, from Mod.L. rhotacismus, from Gk. rhotakizein, from rho "the letter -r-," from Heb. or Phoenician roth. Excessive or peculiar use of the -r- sound (cf. the "burr"), especially the conversion of another sound (usually -s-) to -r-.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: rho·ta·cism
Pronunciation: 'rOt-&-"siz-&m
Function: noun
: a defective pronunciation of r; especially : substitution of some other sound for that of r
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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