spirant
UK /ˈspaɪəɹənt/ · US /ˈspaɪɹənt/ noun
Forms spirants
- noun (linguistics, dated) A non-sibilant fricative.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Latin spirans, present participle of spīrō (“to blow”). Compare inspire, expire, respiration, etc.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A term used differently by different authorities; --by some as equivalent to fricative, --that is, as including all the continuous consonants, except the nasals m, n, ng; with the further exception, by others, of the liquids r, l, and the semivowels w, y; by others limited to f, v, th surd and sonant, and the sound of German ch, --thus excluding the sibilants, as well as the nasals, liquids, and semivowels. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 197-208.
Etymology [L. spirans, -antis, p. pr. of spirare to breathe. See Spirit.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “spirant”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details