proper diphthong

1 definition found

proper diphthong - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Diphthong \Diph"thong\ (?; 115, 277), n. [L. diphthongus, Gr. ?;
     di- = di`s- twice + ? voice, sound, fr. ? to utter a sound:
     cf. F. diphthongue.] (Ortho["e]py)
        (a) A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in
            one syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; -- called a
            proper diphthong.
        (b) A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same
            syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in
            rain, eo in people; -- called an improper diphthong.
            [1913 Webster]