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great vowel shift

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

great vowel shift

Main Entry:: great vowel shift
Function:: noun
Usage:: often capitalized G&V&S
Date:: 1909

: a change in pronunciation of the long vowels of Middle English that began in the 15th century and continued into the 16th century in which the high vowels were diphthongized and the other vowels were raised

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