Diphthong \Diph"thong\ (?; 115, 277), n. [L. diphthongus, Gr. ?;
di- = di`s- twice + ? voice, sound, fr. ? to utter a sound:
cf. F. diphthongue.]
(Ortho["e]py)
(a) A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in
one syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; -- called a
proper diphthong.
(b) A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same
syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in
rain, eo in people; -- called an improper diphthong.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|