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vowel fracture

 - 3 dictionary results

break⋅ing

1[brey-king]
–noun
Phonology. the change of a pure vowel to a diphthong, esp. in certain environments, as, in Old English, the change of a vowel to a diphthong under the influence of a following consonant or combination of consonants, as the change of -a- to -ea- and of -e- to -eo- before preconsonantal r or l and before h, as in earm “arm” developed from arm, and eorthe “earth” from erthe.
Also called vowel fracture.


Origin:
1870–75; trans. of G Brechung; see break, -ing 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To vowel fracture
vowel fracture  
n.  The change of a vowel to a diphthong; breaking.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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