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Added 10 October 2026

epenthesis

/ɪˈpɛn.θə.sɪs/ noun

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In Latin: epenthesis Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about epenthesis at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. The insertion of a phoneme, letter, or syllable into a word, usually to satisfy the phonological constraints of a language or poetic context.

Origin

Middle of 16th century: via Late Latin, from Ancient Greek ἐπένθεσις (epénthesis), from ἐπεντίθημι (epentíthēmi, “to insert”), from ἐπί (epí) + ἐντίθημι (entíthēmi, “to put in”), from ἐν (en, “in”) + τίθημι (títhēmi, “to put, place”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: schwaglottalanaptyxisecphonemaproparalepsisparagogeaphoresisaphæresisprothesissyncopationperispomenon

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