RHOTACISM


Meaning of RHOTACISM in English

ˈrōd.əˌsizəm noun

also rho·ta·cis·mus ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈsizməs ; or ro·ta·cism ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌsizəm

( -s )

Etymology: New Latin rhotacismus, from Middle Greek rhōtakizein to make too much or wrong use of the letter rho or r (from rhō rho) + Latin -ismus -ism — more at rho

1. : a defective pronunciation of r ; especially : substitution of some other sound for that of r

2. : the change of the sound z to r especially common between vowels (as in forlo r n [lo s e] or Latin gene r is [Sanskrit jana s as])

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.