unsounded
- adjective
- /ʌnˈsaʊndɪd/
- Specialized
:
silente
- The letter 'k' is unsounded in 'knife'.
Examples
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In the word 'honest', the initial 'h' is unsounded.
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Some French words contain unsounded consonants at the end.
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The 'k' in 'knight' is an unsounded letter.
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In the word 'honor', the 'h' is unsounded.
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The letter 'h' in the word 'honest' is unsounded when spoken.
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In the word 'psychology', the 'p' is unsounded and not pronounced.
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Her name had many letters, but some were unsounded during introductions.
Synonyms
18
4.3
A letter written but not pronounced
Not pronounced aloud or written without vowel marks
Thought but not spoken aloud
A word or sound that has no separate syllables
A sound made without clear words, like a grunt
Antonyms
How Pronounced
Surface Forms
Morphology
unsounded = sounded (transparent) = un + sound + ed
The adjective is a straightforward negation of 'sounded' (not pronounced); meaning follows usual un- negation of a past participle.
Etymology
Unsounded comes from the parts un- 'not' and sound 'to make a noise'. So it means 'not pronounced', a letter or sound that is written but not spoken, like the 'k' in 'knight'.