spirant

From Latin spirans, present participle of spīrō (“I blow”). Compare inspire, expire, respiration, etc.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈspaɪəɹənt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈspaɪɹənt/

spirant (plural spirants)

1. (linguistics, dated) A fricative.
   • 1888, Joseph Wright, An Old High German Primer:

     Spirant consonants are those in which the mouth passage is simply narrowed without any actual contact.

   • 1954, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E:

     The raising of the stem indicated the opening of the consonant to a ‘spirant’ […]

• fricative

• Partins, intraps, spraint

spīrant

1. third-person plural present active indicative of spīrō