epenthesis

(ep en′t̸hə sis)

noun pl. epentheses

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
the inserted sound or letter

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

Related Forms:

See epenthesis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. e·pen·the·ses (-sēzˌ)

The insertion of a sound in the middle of a word, as in Middle English thunder from Old English thunor.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin

Origin: , from Greek

Origin: , from epentithenai, to insert

Origin: : ep-, epi-, epi-

Origin: + en-, in; see en-²

Origin: + tithenai, to place; see dhē- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

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