isolative

isolative [ahy-suh-ley-tiv, is-uh-] Word Origin adjective

1. noting a change in part of the sound of a word made independently of the phonetic environment of that part.

Origin of isolative First recorded in 1885–90; isolate + -ive Related formsun·i·so·la·tive, adjective British Dictionary definitions for isolative isolative adjective

1. (of a sound change) occurring in all linguistic environments, as the change of Middle English / iː / to Modern English / aɪ /, as in timeCompare combinative (def. 2)
2. of, relating to, or concerned with isolation