satem

sa·tem

 (sä′təm)

adj.

Designating those Indo-European languages, including the Indo-Iranian, Armenian, and Balto-Slavic branches, in which original palatal velar stops became fricatives (as k' > s or š) and labiovelar stops became plain velars (as k^w > k).

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[Avestan satəm, hundred (a word whose initial sound illustrates the change); see dekm̥ in Indo-European roots.]

satem

(ˈsɑːtəm; ˈseɪ-)

adj

(Languages) denoting or belonging to the group of Indo-European languages in which original velar stops became palatalized (k > s or /ʃ/). These languages belong to the Indic, Iranian, Armenian, Slavonic, Baltic, and Albanian branches and are traditionally regarded as the E group. Compare centum

[from Avestan satəm hundred; chosen to exemplify the variation of initial s with initial k (as in centum) in Indo-European languages]

sa•tem

(ˈsɑ təm)

adj.

of or designating the group of Indo-European languages in which Proto-Indo-European palatal stops developed into alveolar or palatal fricatives. Compare centum.

[1900–05; < Avestan satəm hundred (c. Latin centum)]