ˈfȯrmənt, -ȯ(ə)m-, -ˌmant, -aa(ə)nt noun
( -s )
Etymology: German, from Latin formant-, formans, present participle of formare to form — more at form
1. : a characteristic component of the quality of a speech sound ; specifically : any of several resonance bands which are regarded as together determining the phonetic quality of a vowel
2.
a. : determinative II 3
b. : a derivational affix