ablaut

[ ahb-lout, ab-; German ahp-lout ]

noun

, Grammar.

1. (in Indo-European languages) regular alternation in the internal phonological structure of a word element, especially alternation of a vowel, that is coordinated with a change in grammatical function or combination, as in English sing, sang, sung, song; apophony.

ablaut

/ ˈaplaut; ˈæblaʊt /

noun

1. linguistics vowel gradation, esp in Indo-European languages See gradation

Word History and Origins

Origin of ablaut¹

1840–50; < German, equivalent to ab- off + Laut sound

Word History and Origins

Origin of ablaut¹

German, coined 1819 by Jakob Grimm from ab off + Laut sound

Example Sentences

According to the New English Dictionary, “grub” may be referred to an ablaut variant of the Old Teutonic grab-, to dig, cf. “grave.”

From Project Gutenberg

There are formations in Greek and Latin and English which have hitherto baffled all tests; and there are certain contrivances, such as the augment in Greek, the change of vowels in Hebrew, the Umlaut and Ablaut in the Teutonic dialects, where we might feel inclined to suppose that language admitted distinctions purely musical or phonetic, corresponding to very palpable and material distinctions of thought.

From Project Gutenberg

The name Ἥρα seems probably to be an 'ablaut' form of ὥρα: cf. phrases like Ἥρα τελεία.

From Project Gutenberg

By ablaut is meant the gradation of vowels both in stem and suffix, which was chiefly caused by the primitive Indo-Germanic system of accentuation.

From Project Gutenberg