English Explanatory Dictionary

lenition

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A weakening of articulation causing a consonant to become lenis (soft).

Pronunciation

/lɪˈnɪʃən/ /ləˈnɪʃən/ /liːˈnɪʃən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-lenition.wav /liˈnɪʃən/

Word forms

lenition lenitions

Etymology

Analyzable as lenis + -ition, or as if from Latin lēnīt(us) + -ion, or Latin lēnītiō (“softening”) from lēniō (“soften”) + -tiō (action noun suffix) (attested since at least the 1500s, the same timeframe lenition is first attested in English with the sense "assuaging"). Modelled on German Lenierung.

Antonyms

fortition

Derived words

delenition lenite
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