lenis
Valid in Scrabble
- Scrabble points
- 5
- Words With Friends
- 7
- Letters
- 5
/ˈliːnɪs/
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/ˈliːnɪs/ · /ˈleɪnɪs/ · /ˈlɛnɪs/
Definition of lenis
3 senses · 3 parts of speech · etymology included
adj
-
(not-comparable)Relatively weakly articulated, hence unaspirated and possibly voiced; especially as compared to the others of a group of homorganic consonants.
“Unaspirated [p] is lenis in Danish, the corresponding fortis consonant being [pʰ]. The same sound is fortis in French, the corresponding lenis consonant being [b].”
“All vowels, whether short or complex, are relatively shorter when followed by a fortis consonant and relatively longer when followed by a lenis one or, for those where this is possible, when no consonant follows (in free or unchecked syllables).”
See all 3 definitions Show less
adj
-
(not-comparable)Relatively weakly articulated, hence unaspirated and possibly voiced; especially as compared to the others of a group of homorganic consonants.
“Unaspirated [p] is lenis in Danish, the corresponding fortis consonant being [pʰ]. The same sound is fortis in French, the corresponding lenis consonant being [b].”
“All vowels, whether short or complex, are relatively shorter when followed by a fortis consonant and relatively longer when followed by a lenis one or, for those where this is possible, when no consonant follows (in free or unchecked syllables).”
noun
- A lenis consonant.
name
- A surname.
Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin lēnis (“soft, smooth”).
Words you can make from lenis
31 playable · top: LIENS (5 pts)
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