rough breathing


rough breathing

n.1. An aspirate sound in ancient Greek like that of the sound (h) in English.2. The symbol ( ̔ ) written over some initial vowels and the letter rho in ancient Greek to indicate that a word begins with the sound (h).3. In ancient Greek, a word beginning with the sound (h) plus a vowel or diphthong.

rough breathing

n (Phonetics & Phonology) (in Greek) the sign (῾) placed over an initial letter, or a second letter if the word begins with a diphthong, indicating that (in ancient Greek) it was pronounced with an h. Compare smooth breathing

rough′ breath′ing


n. 1. the symbol (‘) used in the writing of Greek to indicate aspiration of the initial vowel or of the ρ (rho) over which it is placed. 2. the aspirated sound indicated by this mark. Compare smooth breathing. [1740–50; translation of Latin spiritus asper]