diaeresis

< /daɪˈɛr əˌsiz/.

1. the separation of two adjacent vowels, dividing one syllable into two.
2. a sign (¨) placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate separate pronunciation, as in one spelling of the older forms naïve and coöperate: no longer widely used in English.
3. Prosody. the division made in a line or verse by coincidence of the end of a foot and the end of a word.

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)

1. the mark ¨, in writing placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate that it is to be pronounced separately rather than forming a diphthong with the first, as in some spellings of coöperate, naïve, etc
2. this mark used for any other purpose, such as to indicate that a special pronunciation is appropriate to a particular vowelCompare umlaut
3. a pause in a line of verse occurring when the end of a foot coincides with the end of a word

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)

1. a variant spelling of diaeresis

n.

also diaeresis, 1610s, “sign marking the division of a diphthong into two simple sounds,” from Late Latin diaeresis, from Greek diairesis “division,” noun of action from diairein “to divide, separate,” from dia- “apart” (see dia-) + hairein “to take” (see heresy).

n.

1. solution of continuity