epenthesis

noun epen·the·sis \i-ˈpen(t)-thə-səs, e-\

plural epen·the·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of EPENTHESIS

: the insertion or development of a sound or letter in the body of a word (as \ə\ in \ˈa-thə-ˌlēt\ athlete)

— ep·en·thet·ic \ˌe-pən-ˈthe-tik\ adjective

Late Latin, from Greek, from epentithenai to insert a letter, from epi- + entithenai to put in, from en- + tithenai to put — more at do

First Known Use: 1543

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