aphonous
|a-phon-ous|
C2
🇺🇸
/əˈfoʊnəs/
🇬🇧
/əˈfəʊnəs/
without voice
Etymology
Etymology Information
'aphonous' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aphōnos', where the prefix 'a-' meant 'without' and 'phōnē' meant 'voice' or 'sound'.
Historical Evolution
'aphonous' derives from Greek 'aphōnos' and entered English usage via Neo-Latin/modern coinage (influenced by forms such as 'aphonic'), eventually appearing in English as 'aphonous'.
Meaning Changes
Initially it meant 'without voice' in Greek, and over time it has retained that core sense in English as 'voiceless' or 'silent'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
without voice; unable to produce vocal sound (voiceless).
The patient remained aphonous for several days after the surgery.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/16 18:02