Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

weak-ending

noun
/wiːk ˈɛndɪŋ/
Definition
A weak-ending is the last part of a word that has less stress or emphasis when pronounced, often leading to a softer or more muted sound.
Examples
  • In phonetics, weak-endings can affect the rhythm of poetry.
  • Words like ‘happiness’ have a weak-ending in the final syllable.
  • She noticed how the weak-ending in ‘quickly’ made it flow better in the sentence.
Meaning
In linguistics, weak endings refer to the final syllables of words that are typically unstressed, making them less prominent in speech.
Synonyms
  • soft ending
  • unstressed ending
  • faint termination