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Synaeresis




In Linguistics , synaeresis (Greek συναίρεσις) is the Contraction of two Vowel s into a Diphthong (or Long vowel). If synaeresis is used against convention, it may serve as a Rhetorical Figure (a Metaplasm ). The opposite phenomenon is known as Diaeresis .

In Historical Linguistics , such contractions often result after the Regular loss of a consonant that used to separate the two vowels. In this case, the resulting vowel or diphtong will typical carry a Circumflex intonation.


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