C17: via Late Latin from Greek, from epentithenai to insert, from epi- + en-2 + tithenai to place
epenthesis in American English
(ɛpˈɛnθəsɪs)
nounWord forms: pluralepˈentheˌses (ɛpˈɛnθəˌsiz)
1. Phonetics
a change which involves the insertion of an unhistoric sound or letter in a word, as the b in mumble or the extra syllable in the pronunciation ( (ˈæθəˌlit) ) for athlete
2.
the inserted sound or letter
Derived forms
epenthetic (epenˈthetic) (ˌɛpɛnˈθɛtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
LL < Gr < epi-, upon + en-, in + thesis, a placing: see thesis