diaeresis
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di·aer·e·sis
(dī-ĕr′ĭ-sĭs)n.
Variant of dieresis.
diaeresis
(daɪˈɛrɪsɪs) ordieresis
n, pl -ses (-ˌsiːz)
1. (Phonetics & Phonology) the mark ¨, in writing placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate that it is to be pronounced separately rather than forming a diphthong with the first, as in some spellings of coöperate, naïve, etc
2. (Phonetics & Phonology) this mark used for any other purpose, such as to indicate that a special pronunciation is appropriate to a particular vowel. Compare umlaut
3. (Poetry) a pause in a line of verse occurring when the end of a foot coincides with the end of a word
[C17: from Latin diarēsis, from Greek diairesis a division, from diairein, from dia- + hairein to take; compare heresy]
diaeretic, dieretic adj
di•er•e•sis
or di•aer•e•sis
(daɪˈɛr ə sɪs)n., pl. -ses (-ˌsiz)
1. a sign (¨) placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate that it is to be pronounced separately, as in the spellings naïve and coöperate.
2. the division made in a line or verse by coincidence of the end of a foot and the end of a word.
[1605–15; < Latin diaeresis < Greek diaíresis literally, distinction, division =diaire-, s. of diaireîn to divide (di- di-3 + haireîn to take) + -sis -sis]
di`e•ret′ic (-əˈrɛt ɪk) adj.
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| Noun | 1. | diaeresis - a diacritical mark (two dots) placed over a vowel in German to indicate a change in sound diacritic, diacritical mark - a mark added to a letter to indicate a special pronunciation |