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Diacritical - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

diacritical

/ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/ /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪk(ə)l/

Definition:

Relating to marks or signs that distinguish pronunciation or meaning in written language.

Synonyms:

distinguishing, discriminative, distinctive

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

nondistinctive, unmarked

Common Collocations:

diacritical marks, diacritical signs, diacritical symbols

Derivatives:

diacritically, diacritic (noun)

Usage Tips:

Use "diacritical" to describe marks like accents or tildes that modify letters in writing systems.

Common Phrases:

diacritical marks, diacritical points, diacritical signs

Etymology:

From Greek "diakritikos," meaning "distinguishing," derived from "diakrinein" (to separate).

Examples:

  • 1. The word "naïve" has a diacritical mark over the 'i'.
  • 2. Diacritical symbols help clarify pronunciation in dictionaries.
  • 3. Some languages rely heavily on diacritical characters for meaning.
  • 4. The tilde is a common diacritical mark in Spanish.
  • 5. Without diacritical marks, some words might be misread or misunderstood.

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