Phonetics. In the terminology of James Rush (1786–1869), U.S. phonetician and writer on elocution: a voiced consonantal sound. Now disused.

Also more fully pretone syllable. A syllable or vowel which immediately precedes a stressed or accented syllable; = pretonic, n.

A syllable or vowel which immediately precedes a stressed or accented syllable; = pretone, n.

Phonetics. The first accented element or elements in a sequence of sounds before the nucleus (nucleus, n. 12a).

Phonetics. The most prominent syllable or syllables in a word or utterance; the central or principal part of a syllable (usually the vowel).

The lower or hinder extremity of anything; the part opposite to what is regarded as the head. Phonetics. (See quot. 1922.)

Extended and technical uses. Phonetics. The most prominent sound in a syllable with regard to sonority (usually a vowel). Cf. nucleus, n. 12a.

Phonetics. Situated after a nucleus. Also as n.

an unstressed syllable which precedes the peak of a contour.

Linguistics. A nuclear word. See sense A. 2c. rare.

Phonetics. The syllable of a tone-group which carries the primary accent; = nucleus, n. 12a.