The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #37618   Message #526022
Posted By: katlaughing
12-Aug-01 - 03:10 AM
Thread Name: BS: Reasons why English is so hard to learn
Subject: RE: BS: Reasons why English is so hard to learn
Thanks, Dicho, Ebbie and Crazy Eddie. That'll teach to me include all of the definitions. Homophone and homograph were there, too, I just didn't pay attention. Had not heard of heteronym. Look like homograph is also correct. Interesting connotations, these days.*bg*

Main Entry: het.ero.nym
Pronunciation: 'he-t&-r&-"nim
Function: noun
Date: circa 1889
: one of two or more homographs (as a bass voice and bass, a fish) that differ in pronunciation and meaning

Main Entry: ho.mo.graph
Pronunciation: 'hä-m&-"graf, 'hO-
Function: noun
Date: 1873
: one of two or more words spelled alike but different in meaning or derivation or pronunciation (as the bow of a ship, a bow and arrow)
- ho.mo.graph.ic /"h@-m&-'gra-fik, "hO-/ adjective

Main Entry: ho.mo.phone
Pronunciation: 'hä-m&-"fOn, 'hO-
Function: noun
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary
Date: 1843
1 : one of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling (as the words to, too, and two)
2 : a character or group of characters pronounced the same as another character or group
- ho.moph.o.nous /hO-'m@-f&-n&s/ adjective