isolative

[ ahy-suh-ley-tiv, is-uh- ]

adjective

1. noting a change in part of the sound of a word made independently of the phonetic environment of that part.

isolative

/ ˈaɪsələtɪv; ˈaɪsəˌleɪtɪv /

adjective

1. (of a sound change) occurring in all linguistic environments, as the change of Middle English / iː / to Modern English / aɪ /, as in time Compare combinative
2. of, relating to, or concerned with isolation

Other Words From

• un·iso·lative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of isolative¹

First recorded in 1885–90; isolate + -ive