vocality en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ-der. Proto-Indo-European *wṓkʷs Proto-Italic *wōks Latin vōx Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin vōcālisbor. Middle English vocal English vocal Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English vocality From vocal + -ity. Compare Latin vocalitas (“euphony”).
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) The quality or degree of being vocal.
The admiral, fearing she might not confine herself to vocality, but begin to beat time with her fists, thought it right to take up a position; he therefore very dexterously took two steps in the rear, and mounted on a sofa[…]
1895, Captain Frederick Marryat, Frank Mildmay:'On what special subject of the theorems and topics does your desire for vocality seem to be connected with?'
1919, O. Henry, The Gentle Grafter:
- (countable, uncountable) The quality of being a vowel; vocalic character.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| vocalities | Number=Plur | lexicographic |