monophthongizev.
/ˈmɒnə(f)θɒŋʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈmɑnə(f)ˌθɔŋ(ɡ)aɪz/, /məˈnɑpˌθɔŋ(ɡ)aɪz/, /ˈmɑnə(f)ˌθɑŋ(ɡ)aɪz/, /məˈnɑpˌθɑŋ(ɡ)aɪz/ 1. transitive. To change or convert (a vowel sound) into a monophthong.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > vowel > [verb (intransitive)] > convert to monophthong
monophthongize1910
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > vowel > furnish with or produce by vowel [verb (transitive)] > convert to monophthong
smooth1894
monophthongize1910
1910 Mod. Lang. Notes 25 64/1 These spellings seem to prove that the ME. diphthong o + u (ou, ow) had already begun to be monophthongized.
1927 J. J. Hogan Eng. Lang. in Ireland 69 M.E. ai, ei. These were levelled under ai in M.E. This was monophthongized, and converged with M.E. ā.
1968 W. S. Allen Vox Graeca ii. 71 The [ēͅ] of Boeotian was the result of monophthongizing the diphthong [ai].
1991 Eng. World-wide 12 283 In the west, /aue/, like the diphthong, had been monophthongized to /e:/.
2. intransitive. To change or convert a vowel sound to a monophthong. Also, of a vowel sound: to become a monophthong.
ΚΠ
1965 W. S. Allen Vox Latina ii. 62 Although French has monophthongized to o, the au diphthong must have survived long enough to cause the change of c to ch in..chose from causam.
1970 B. M. H. Strang Hist. Eng. ii. 111 The diphthong, in either form, began to monophthongise.
1992 Word 43 101 Portuguese influence may have reinforced an independent tendency among some Rio de Onor dialect speakers to monophthongize.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.1910