inflection
|in-flec-tion|
/ɪnˈflɛkʃən/
change in form or tone
Etymology
'inflection' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'inflectere,' where 'in-' meant 'into' and 'flectere' meant 'to bend.'
'inflectere' transformed into the Old French word 'inflection,' and eventually became the modern English word 'inflection' through Middle English.
Initially, it meant 'to bend or change,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a change in the form of a word or modulation of voice.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender.
The inflection of verbs in English often involves adding -ed for the past tense.
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Noun 2
the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice.
Her voice had a rising inflection at the end of the sentence.
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Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45