/ kənˈtɪnjuənt; NAmE / noun
( phonetics ) a consonant that is pronounced with the breath passing through the throat, so that the sound can be continued. /f/ , /l/ and /m/ are examples of continuants.
► con·tinu·ant adjective [ only before noun ]:
continuant consonants
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (as an adjective in the general sense continuing ): from French , from continuer , reinforced by Latin continuant- continuing, from the verb continuare , from continuus uninterrupted, from continere hang together (from con- together with + tenere hold). Current senses date from the 19th cent.