De*vo"cal*ize (?), v. t.

To make toneless; to deprive of vowel quality.

-- De*vo`cal*i*za"tion, n.

If we take a high vowel, such as (i) [= nearly i of bit], and devocalize it, we obtain a hiss which is quite distinct enough to stand for a weak (jh). H. Sweet.

 

© Webster 1913.