Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
lenite
Verb
/ˈlɛn.aɪt/
Definition
A phonetic process in linguistics where a consonant sound is made less forceful or weakened.
Examples
- In some dialects, the ‘t’ sound lenites to a softer ‘d’.
- The word ‘night’ can lenite in fast speech, blending into the surrounding sounds.
- Lenition often occurs between vowels in connected speech.
Meaning
To undergo a change that makes a sound softer or less emphatic, often resulting in a more fluid or gentle pronunciation.
Synonyms
- Weaken
- Softer
- Mitigate
