Word of the Day – Diacritic

Diacritic (noun)

dai-a-krit-ik

A sign, such as an accent or cedilla, which when written above or below a letter indicates a difference in pronunciation from the same letter when unmarked or differently marked.

Late 17th century from Greek diakritikos, from diakrinein ‘distinguish’, from dia- ‘through’ + krinein ‘to separate’.

Example sentences

“Many Roman characters had diacritics, and for historians the correct placement can be tricky.”