UMLAUT

umlaut

Noun

  1. An assimilatory process whereby a vowel is pronounced more like a following vocoid that is separated by one or more consonants.
  2. The umlaut process (as above) that occurred historically in Germanic languages whereby back vowels became front vowels when followed by syllable containing a front vocoid (e.g. Germanic lusiz > Old English lys(i) > Modern English lice).
  3. A vowel so assimilated.
  4. The diacritical mark ( ¨ ) placed over a vowel, usually when it indicates such assimilation.

Verb

  1. To place an umlaut over a vowel.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: umlaut
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