continuant

noun

con·​tin·​u·​ant kən-ˈtin-yü-ənt 

1

: something that continues or serves as a continuation

2

: a speech sound (such as a fricative or vowel) that is produced without a complete closure of the breath passage compare stop

continuant adjective

Word History

Etymology

continue + -ant entry 1

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1