epentheses

Variant of epenthesis

noun pl. epentheses

  1. Phonet. a change which involves the insertion of an unhistoric sound or letter in a word, as the b in mumble or the extra syllable in the pronunciation (at̸hʹə·lēt) for athlete
  2. the inserted sound or letter

Origin: LL < Gr < epi-, upon + en-, in + thesis, a placing: see thesis

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
link/cite print suggestion box