affricates
|af-fri-cates|
C1
/ˈæfrɪˌkeɪts/
(affricate)
complex speech sound
Etymology
Etymology Information
'affricate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'affricatus,' where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'fricare' meant 'to rub.'
Historical Evolution
'affricatus' transformed into the French word 'affricate,' and eventually became the modern English word 'affricate' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to rub together,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a speech sound.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a complex speech sound consisting of a stop consonant followed by a fricative, both produced at the same place of articulation, such as the 'ch' sound in 'church'.
The word 'church' begins with an affricate sound.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/24 08:21