visarga

noun

vi·​sar·​ga

və̇ˈsärgə

plural -s

1

: a Sanskrit postvocalic sound or group of sounds produced by keeping the vocal organs above the glottis in the same position as for the preceding vowel and continuing to expel air from the lungs but not vibrating the vocal cords

2

: a sign used in writing Sanskrit to represent the visarga sound or sounds

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit, literally, discharge, from vi asunder + sarga action of letting go, from sṛijati he lets go

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