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n. 1. A symbol ( ˘ ) placed over a vowel to show that it has a short sound. 2. A curved mark used to indicate a short or unstressed syllable of verse. 3. Music A note equivalent to two whole notes. [Middle English, written communication, from Old French, from Medieval Latin, short syllable, from Latin, neuter of brevis, short; see BRIEF.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
