improper diphthong

improper diphthong
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}. [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Improper diphthong — Improper Im*prop er, a. [F. impropre, L. improprius; pref. im not + proprius proper. See {Proper}.] 1. Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances, design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous; inappropriate; indecent; as, an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • improper diphthong — noun 1. : a vowel digraph 2. : partial diphthong 3. : an alpha, eta, or omega with an iota subscript …   Useful english dictionary

  • Improper — Im*prop er, a. [F. impropre, L. improprius; pref. im not + proprius proper. See {Proper}.] 1. Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances, design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous; inappropriate; indecent; as, an improper… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Improper feud — Improper Im*prop er, a. [F. impropre, L. improprius; pref. im not + proprius proper. See {Proper}.] 1. Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances, design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous; inappropriate; indecent; as, an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Improper fraction — Improper Im*prop er, a. [F. impropre, L. improprius; pref. im not + proprius proper. See {Proper}.] 1. Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances, design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous; inappropriate; indecent; as, an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • proper diphthong — 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • iota adscript — noun : the unpronounced iota of a Greek improper diphthong when written on the line after the long vowel used in standard printing practice only when the long vowel is a capital …   Useful english dictionary

  • iota subscript — noun : the unpronounced iota of a Greek improper diphthong when written small beneath the preceding long vowel [as ᾳ (āi), ῃ (ēi), ῳ (ōi)] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Brazilian Portuguese — (Portuguese: português brasileiro or português do Brasil; pt BR) is a group of Portuguese dialects written and spoken by most of the 190 million inhabitants[1] of Brazil and by a few million Brazilian emigrants, mainly in the United States,… …   Wikipedia

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