Posted on 07/10/2014 5:16:40 AM PDT by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
epenthesis \ih-PEN-thuh-sis\noun
the insertion or development of a sound or letter in the body of a word.
Example sentences:
The "b" in the adjective "nimble" is the result of epenthesis; in Middle English, the word was spelled "nimel."
"When Yogi Bear talks about swiping 'pick-a-nick' baskets in Jellystone Park, it sounds as if he's just having fun, but he's also demonstrating 'epenthesis,' inserting a vowel to avoid the consonants bumping up against each other."
Ruth Walker,The Christian Science Monitor, August 15, 2012
Etymology:
If you say "film" as "FIL-um," with two syllables, you've committed epenthesis. It isn't a punishable offensein fact, it's not an offense at all. It is simply a natural way to break up an awkward cluster of consonants. It's easier for some people to say "film" as two syllables instead of one, just as it's easier for some to insert a "b" sound into "cummerbund," pronouncing that word as "CUM-ber-bund. From Late Latin from Greek, from epentithenai to insert, from epi- + en- ² + tithenai to place] and from Greek thésis a setting down, something set down, equivalent to the- (stem of tithénai to put, set down) + -sis -sis
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
Rise and shine!
Ugh. Coffee.
good morning.
Warsh! As in, I warshed my hands and face!
you got the sound of a Pittsburgher about ya!
And I just thought I had taken a deep dive into the dictionary and thesaurus then along comes this thread with the Word of the Day.
Nearly died from epenthesisis when I was a kid.
Tall and tan with curves and creases
The Girl from Epenthesis unleashes
My heart’s kinesis
I go to pieces
and....ahhhhh
The addition of vowels to the name Obama is a perfect example of epenthesisis.
Obama used a phone and a pen thesis
Constitution was put in parenthesis
Separation of Powers
Was sent to the showers
Two centuries, he put an end to this
Brother Cracker, you started an epithenetic trend with epenthesisis. It is visibely infecatious.
I can name that tune in 5 notes!
My real-a-tor got a nice commission for selling a house, so she bought some jewel-a-ry.
Did that jewel a ree contain any alu min ium?
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