homophonous

Adjective

Meaning

Originally, sounding alike; of the same pitch; unisonous; monodic.

Now used for plain harmony, note against note, as opposed to polyphonic harmony, in which the several parts move independently, each with its own melody.

Expressing the same sound by a different combination of letters; as, bay and bey.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related terms

Examples

`horse' and `hoarse' are homophonous words Source: Internet

General Napier apocryphally reported his conquest of the province to his superiors with the one-word message peccavi, a schoolgirl's pun recorded in Punch (magazine) relying on the Latin word's meaning, "I have sinned", homophonous to "I have Sindh". Source: Internet

In common speech this is almost never done, so singular and plural forms are homophonous in all contexts. Source: Internet

Although language should be kept simple and short, keeping context is important because certain homophonous words are difficult to distinguish by lip-reading. Source: Internet

Conversely, in some cases homophonous terms may be distinguished in writing by different characters, but not so distinguished in speech, and hence potentially confusing. Source: Internet

Hence Old Norse bœndr "farmers" > Norwegian class 1 bønder, but baunir "beans" and bœnir "prayers" both > Norwegian class 2 bønner (homophonous with bønder except for the pitch difference). Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms