Dictionary

Grimm's law

noun \ˈgrimz-\

Definition of GRIMM'S LAW

:  a statement in historical linguistics: Proto-Indo-European voiceless stops became Proto-Germanic voiceless fricatives (as in Greek pyr, treis, kardia compared with English fire, three, heart), Proto-Indo-European voiced stops became Proto-Germanic voiceless stops (as in Latin duo, genus compared with English two, kin), and Proto-Indo-European voiced aspirated stops became Proto-Germanic voiced fricatives (as in Sanskrit nābhi, madhya mid compared with English navel, Old Norse mithr mid)
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Origin of GRIMM'S LAW

Jacob Grimm
First Known Use: 1838

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