isolativeadj.
/ˈʌɪs(ə)lətɪv/, /ˈʌɪsəleɪtɪv/, U.S. /ˈaɪsəˌleɪdɪv/ a. Phonetics. Of a sound-change: taking place without reference to neighbouring sounds: opposed to combinative adj. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > sound changes > [adjective] > effected without reference to other influences
isolative1888
1888 H. Sweet Hist. Eng. Sounds (new ed.) 17 Isolative changes are those which affect a sound without any reference to its surroundings.
1888 H. Sweet Hist. Eng. Sounds (new ed.) 26 Isolative change of s into ʃ is regular in Gm initial s followed by a cons., as in schwan, stein.
1906 H. C. Wyld Hist. Study Mother Tongue iv. 73 Sound changes are conveniently divided into two main classes: Isolative Changes, which take place independent of other neighbouring sounds in the word or sentence, and uninfluenced by them; and Combinative Changes.
1972 R. R. K. Hartmann & F. C. Stork Dict. Lang. & Linguistics 212/2 A sound change is said to be..isolative, autonomous, spontaneous, sporadic when it is in no way dependent on its environment but occurs in all positions in which the sound in question occurs.
b. gen. Tending to isolate.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > separation or isolation > [adjective] > tending to isolate
alienative1820
isolative1957
1957 Antiquity 31 189 Natural selection and isolative mechanisms.
1968 G. Jones Hist. Vikings ii. i. 69 The axe-resisting, isolative forests of central Sweden.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1888