consonant
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8 ENTRIES FOUND:

1con·so·nant

adjective \ˈkän(t)-s(ə-)nənt\

Definition of CONSONANT

1
: being in agreement or harmony : free from elements making for discord
2
: marked by musical consonances
3
: having similar sounds <consonant words>
4
: relating to or exhibiting consonance : resonant
con·so·nant·ly adverb

Examples of CONSONANT

  1. <the temples and palaces of ancient Greece are among the most consonant buildings in architectural history>
  2. <his gentle behavior is consonant with his expressed belief in pacifism>

Origin of CONSONANT

Middle English, from Latin consonant-, consonans, present participle of consonare to sound together, agree, from com- + sonare to sound — more at sound
First Known Use: 15th century

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

2consonant

noun

Definition of CONSONANT

: one of a class of speech sounds (as \p\, \g\, \n\, \l\, \s\, \r\) characterized by constriction or closure at one or more points in the breath channel; also : a letter representing a consonant —usually used in English of any letter except a, e, i, o, and u

Origin of CONSONANT

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin consonant-, consonans, from present participle of consonare
First Known Use: 14th century

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge

consonant

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any speech sound characterized by an articulation in which a closure or narrowing of the vocal tract completely or partially blocks the flow of air; also, any letter or symbol representing such a sound. Consonants are usually classified according to the place of articulation (e.g., palate, teeth, lips); the manner of articulation, as in stops (complete closure of the oral passage, released with a burst of air), fricatives (forcing of breath through a constricted passage), and trills (vibration of the tip of the tongue or the uvula); and the presence or absence of voicing, nasalization, aspiration, and other features.

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