Syneresis (Noun)
Meaning 1
The separation of liquid from a gel that is caused by contraction (as in cheese making).
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
The contraction of two vowels into a diphthong.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- In Greek phonology, syneresis occurred in words such as καιρός, where the original ai was contracted into a diphthong.
- The Greek term for syneresis comes from the concept of combining two distinct vowels into a single diphthong sound.
- Throughout the development of ancient Greek, syneresis affected various combinations of vowels in certain phonological contexts.
- Scholars study instances of syneresis to gain insights into the evolution of Greek language patterns over time.
- As Greek transformed from Classical to Hellenistic and eventually Koine periods, changes resulting from syneresis impacted linguistic styles significantly.