Spirant

Origin

From Latin spirans, present participle of spīrō ("I blow"). Compare inspire, expire, respiration, etc.

Noun

1. (linguistics, archaic) A fricative.
• 1888, w, An Old High German Primer, Spirant consonants are those in which the mouth passage is simply narrowed without any actual contact.
• 1954, w, w:The Lord of the Rings, The raising of the stem indicated the opening of the consonant to a ‘spirant’ ...

Synonyms

• fricative

Anagrams

• spraint