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List of Derivatives

This website uses symbols to transcribe phonemes (sounds). For an explanation of what these symbols represent, click here: vowels, consonants. The following special symbols are used:
ə Λ ā ē ī ō ū ű œ θ δ š ž č ĵ ŋ
If your browser cannot display any of these characters, you are advised to move to a browser which can, such as Internet Explorer 6.0.
Note: an apostrophe ' is placed before the accented vowel.

The roots in related words often have different pronunciations. This page aims to list as many of these changes as is practical in a small space. Detailed discussions of the proceses involved are given on other pages. Throughout this list, the effects of vowel reduction can be seen. They are too frequent to point out individually.

Palatalisation: /s/ + /j/ > /š/, /z/ + /j/ > /ž/, /t/ + /j/ > /č/, /d/ + /j/ > /ĵ/
impress /impr'es/+ -ion /jən/ > impression /impr'ešən/
rapt /r'apt/+ -ure /jər/ > rapture /r'apčər/

Shifts in accent:
- Between verbs and other word classes:
project /pr'oĵekt/ (or /pr'ōĵekt/) (substantive) vs. project /prəĵ'ekt/ (verb)
progress /pr'ōgres/ (or /pr'ogres/) (substantive) vs. progress /prəgr'es/ (verb)
document /d'okjūmənt/ (substantive) vs. document /dokjūm'ent/ (verb: but also /d'okjūment/, differing from substantive only in having a non-reduced final vowel)
alternate /'oltərnēt/ (verb) vs. alternate /olt'œrnət/ (adjective) vs. alternative /olt'œrnətiv/ (adjective)
- With the suffix -ion:
calculate /k'alkjūlēt/ + -ion > calculation /kalkjūl'ēšən/
meditate /m'editēt/ + -ion > meditation /medit'ēšən/
imitate /'imitēt/ + -ion > imitation /imit'ēšən/
simulate /s'imjūlēt/ + -ion > simulation /simjūl'ēšən/
- With the suffix -ly:
secondary /s'ekənderī/ (vowel reduction > /s'ekəndrī/) + -ly > secondarily /sekənd'erilī/
momentary /m'ōmənterī/ (vowel reduction > /m'ōmənterī/) + -ly > momentarily /mōmənt'erilī/
- With the suffix -ity:
sterile /st'erail/ (vowel reduction > /st'erəl/) + -ity > sterility /stər'ilitī/
practical /pr'aktikəl/ + -ity > practicality /praktik'alitī/
- (Rarely) with the suffix -al:
controversy /kəntr'ovərsī/ + -al > controversial /kontr'əvœršəl/

Root-final voicing: /f/ > /v/, /s/> /z/, /θ/ > /δ/
grief /gr'īf/ (substantive) > grieve /gr'īv/ (verb: 'feel belief')
belief /bil'īf/ (substantive) > believe /bil'īv/ (verb: 'have belief')
relief /ril'īf/ (substantive) > relieve /ril'īv/ (verb: 'give belief')
life /l'aif/ (substantive singular) > lives /l'aivz/ (plural of same)
life /laif/ (substantive) > live /liv/ (verb: 'have life')
loaf /l'ōf/ (substantive singular) > loaves /l'ōvz/ (plural of same)
leaf /l'īf/ (substantive singular) > leaves /l'īvz/ (plural of same)
roof /r'ūf/ (substantive singular) > rooves /r'ūvz/ (plural of same)
hoof /h'ūf/ (substantive singular) > hooves /h'ūvz/ (plural of same)
truth /tr'ūθ/ or (substantive singular) > truths /tr'ūδz/ (plural of same)
youth /j'ūθ/ or (substantive singular) > youths /j'ūδz/ (plural of same)
path /p'aθ/ or /p'āθ/ (substantive singular) > paths /p'aδz/ or /p'āδz/ (plural of same)
bath /baθ/ or /bāθ/ (substantive) > bathe /bēδ/ (verb: 'have a bath')
cloth /kloθ/ (substantive) > clothe /klōδ/ (verb: 'put clothes on'), clothes /klōδz/ (substantive: always plural)
wreath /rīθ/ (substantive) > wreathe /rīδ/ (verb: 'put a wreath on')
wreath /r'īθ/ (substantive singular) > wreathes /r'īδz/ (plural of same)
teeth /tīθ/ (substantive) > teethe /tīδ/ (verb: 'grow first teeth')
use /jūs/ (substantive) > use /jūz/ (verb: 'make use of')
half /hāf/ (substantive) > halve /hāv/ (verb: 'reduce by half')
half /h'āf/ (substantive singular) > halves /h'āvz/ (plural of same)
calf /kāf/ (substantive) > calve /kāv/ (verb: 'give birth to a calf')
calf /kāf/ (substantive singular) > calves /kāv/ (plural of same)
heath /hīθ/ (substantive) > heathen /h'īδən/ (adjective: intended to mean 'someone from a heath')
smith /smiθ/ (substantive: 'metalworker') > smithy /sm'iδī/ (substantive: 'place where metal is worked')
troth /troθ/ (archaic substantive: 'engagement to marry') > betrothe /bitr'ōδ/ (verb: 'arrange marriage')
brass /bras/ or /brās/ (substantive) > brazen /br'ēzən/ (adjective: 'made of brass')
grease /grīs/ (substantive) > greasy /grīsī/ or /grīzī/ (adjective: 'having grease')
staff /staf/ or /stāf/ (substantive: 'stick') > staves /stēvz/ (archaic plural of same)

Changes in the vowel: The same vowel spelling may have different pronunciations in related words:
a: /ē/ vs. /a/:
nation /n'ēšən/ vs. national /n'ašnəl/, nationally /n'ašnəlī/, nationalist /n'ašnəlist/, nationality /našn'alitī/ (Latin natio)
nature /n'ētjər/ > /n'ēčər/, naturist /n'ētjərist/ > /n'ēčərist/ vs. natural /n'atjərəl/ > /n'ačrəl/, naturally /n'atjərəlī/ > /n'ačrəlī/ (reduced forms shown here are the usual pronunciations: see palatalisation) (Latin natura)
chaste /č'ēst/ vs. chastity /č'astitī/ (Latin castus)
bathe /bēδ/ vs. bath /baθ/ (or /bāθ/) (Old English bathian, bæth)
brazen /br'ēzən/ vs. brass /bras/ (or /brās/) (Old English bræsen, bræs)
staves /stēvz/ (archaic plural) vs. staff /staf/ or /stāf/ (singular) (Old English stæf)
grave /gr'ēv/ vs. gravity /gr'avitī/ (Latin gravis)
insane /ins'ēn/ vs. insanity /ins'anitī/ (Latin in 'not' + sanus 'healthy')
inane /in'ēn/ vs. inanity /in'anitī/ (Latin inanis)
humane /hűm'ēn/ vs. humanity /hűm'anitī/, human /hűm'ən/ (Latin humanus)
urbane /œrb'ēn/ vs. urbanity /œrb'anitī/ (Latin urbanus)
profane /prəf'ēn/ vs. profanity /prəf'anitī/ (Latin profanus)
opaque /ōp'ēk/ vs. opacity /ōp'asitī/ (Latin opacus)
tenacious /tən'ēšəs/ vs. tenacity /tən'asitī/ (Latin tenax, tenacitas)
rapacious /rəp'ēšəs/ vs. rapacity /rəp'asitī/ (Latin rapax, rapacitas)
capacious /kəp'ēšəs/ vs. capacity /kəp'asitī/ (Latin capax, capacitas)
voracious /vər'ēšəs/ vs. voracity /vər'asitī/ (Latin vorax, voracitas)
loquacious /ləkw'ēšəs/ vs. loquacity /ləkw'asitī/ (Latin loquax, loquacitas)

e: /ī/ vs. /e/:
evolution /īvəl'ūšən/ (typically British) vs. /evəl'ūšən/ (typically North American)
concede /kəns'īd/ vs. concession /kəns'ešən/ (Latin con 'with' + cedere 'walk')
recede /ris'īd/ vs. recession /ris'ešən/, recess /r'īses/ (Latin re- 'back' + cedere 'walk')
precede /pris'īd/ vs. precession /pris'ešən/ (Latin prae 'before' + cedere 'walk')
secede /səs'īd/ vs. secession /səs'ešən/ (Latin se- 'apart' + cedere 'walk')
compete /kəmp'īt/ vs. competitive /kəmp'etitiv/ (Latin con 'together' + petere 'seek')
species /sp'īsīz/ or /sp'īšīz/ vs. special /sp'ešəl/ (Latin species)
- The same sound change with different spellings: /ī/ can be spelt ee or ea, /e/ can be spelt ea
feed /f'īd/ (simple non-past) vs. fed /f'et/ (simple past, perfect/passive participle) (Old English fédan)
bleed /bl'īd/ (simple non-past) vs. bled /bl'et/ (simple past, perfect/passive participle) (Old English blédan)
keep /k'īp/ (simple non-past) vs. kept /k'ept/ (simple past, perfect/passive participle) (Old English cépan)
sleep /sl'īp/ (simple non-past) vs. slept /sl'ept/ (simple past, perfect/passive participle) (Old English slǽpan)
weep /w'īp/ (simple non-past) vs. wept /w'ept/ (simple past, perfect/passive participle) (Old English wépan)
read /r'īd/ (simple non-past) vs. read /r'ed/ (simple past, perfect/passive participle) (Old English rǽdan)
dream /dr'īm/ (simple non-past) vs. dreamt /dr'emt/ (simple past, perfect/passive participle) (Old English dréam)
proceed /prəs'īd/, procedure /prəs'īdjər/ vs. procession /prəs'ešən/, process /pr'ōses/ (Latin pro + cedere 'walk')
succeed /səks'īd/ vs. succession /səks'ešən/, success /səks'es/ (Latin sub + cedere 'walk')
repeat /rip'īt/ vs. repetitive /rip'etitiv/ (Latin re- 'again' + petere 'seek')

i: /ai/ vs. /i/:
life /laif/ vs. live /liv/ (Old English líf, lifian)
bite /b'ait/ (simple non-past) vs. bit /b'it/ (simple past) bitten /b'itən/ (perfect/passive participle) (Old English bítan)
hide /h'aid/ (simple non-past) vs. hid /h'id/ (simple past) hidden /h'idən/ (perfect/passive participle) (Old English hýdan)
slide /sl'aid/ (simple non-past) vs. slid /sl'id/ (simple past) (Old English slídan)
ride /r'aid/ (simple non-past) vs. ridden /r'idən/ (perfect/passive participle) (Old English rídan)
write /r'ait/ (simple non-past) vs. written /r'itən/ (perfect/passive participle) (Old English wrítan)
wide /w'aid/ (adjective) vs. width /w'idθ/ (substantive) (Old English wíd)
incline /iŋkl'ain/ vs. inclination /iŋklin'ēšən/ (Latin in + clinare 'lean')
scribe /skr'aib/ vs. script /scr'ipt/ (Latin scribere 'write')
inscribe /inskr'aib/ vs. inscription /inscr'ipšən/ (Latin in + scribere 'write')
describe /diskr'aib/ vs. description /discr'ipšən/, descriptive /discr'iptiv/ (Latin de 'about' + scribere 'write')
prescribe /priskr'aib/ vs. prescription /priscr'ipšən/, prescriptive /priscr'iptiv/ (Latin prae 'before' + scribere 'write')
proscribe /prəskr'aib/ vs. proscription /prəscr'ipšən/, proscriptive /prəscr'iptiv/ (Latin pro + scribere 'write')
provide /prəv'aid/ vs. provision /prəv'ižən/ (Latin pro + videre 'see')
divide /div'aid/, divisive /div'aisiv/, divisor /div'aizər/ vs. division /div'ižən/
revise /riv'aiz/ vs. revision /riv'ižən/ (Latin re- 'again' + visere 'visit')
deride /dir'aid/, derisive /dir'aisiv/ vs. derision /dir'ižən/ (Latin de 'about' + ridere 'laugh')
incise /ins'aiz/, incisive /ins'aisiv/, incisor /ins'aizər/ vs. incision /ins'ižən/ (Latin in + caedere 'cut')
collide /kəl'aid/ vs. collision /kəl'ižən/ (Latin con 'together' + laedere 'strike')
invite /inv'ait/ vs. invitation /invit'ēšən/
verbs in -fy, as pacify /p'asifai/ vs. pacification /pasifik'ēšən/ (Latin -ficare 'make')
- The same sound change with different spellings: /ai/ can be spelt igh, y, /i/ can be spelt y
light /l'ait/ (simple non-past) vs. lit /l'it/ (simple past) (Old English líhtan)
delight /dil'ait/ vs. delicious /dil'išəs/ (Latin deliciae)
type /t'aip/ vs. typical /t'ipikəl/ (Greek tupos, spelt typus in Latin)

o: /ō/ vs. /o/:
progress /pr'ōgres/ (typically British) vs. /pr'ogres/ (typically North American)
project /pr'ōĵekt/ (North England dialect) vs. /pr'oĵekt/ (standard)
clothe /klōδ/, clothes /klōδz/ vs. cloth /kloθ/ (Old English cláth)

u: /ű/ (> /jū/) vs. /Λ/:
reduce /rid'űs/ vs. reduction /rid'Λkšən/ (Latin re- 'back' + ducere 'carry')
deduce /did'űs/ vs. deduction /did'Λkšən/ (Latin de + ducere 'carry')
induce /ind'űs/ vs. induction /ind'Λkšən/ (Latin in + ducere 'carry')
produce /prəd'űs/ vs. production /prəd'Λkšən/ (Latin pro + ducere 'carry')
consume /kəns'űm/ vs. consumption /kəns'Λmpšən/ (Latin con 'with' + sumere 'take')
resume /riz'űm/ vs. resumption /riz'Λmpšən/ (Latin re- 'again' + sumere 'take')
presume /priz'űm/ vs. presumption /priz'Λmpšən/ (Latin prae + sumere 'take')
humility /hűm'ilitī/ vs. humble /h'Λmbəl/ (Latin humilis)
impugn /imp'űn/ vs. pugnacious /pΛgn'ēšəs/, puncture /p'Λŋkčər/ (Latin pugnare 'fight')

Old English umlaut:
- Old English o > e
foot /f'ut/ vs. feet /f'īt/ (Old English fót, fét)
tooth /t'ūθ/ vs. teeth /t'īθ/, teethe /t'īδ/ (Old English tóth, téth)
goose /g'ūs/ vs. geese /g'īs/ (Old English gós, gés)
blood /bl'Λd/ vs. bleed /bl'īd/ (Old English blód, blédan)
food /f'ūd/ vs. feed /f'īd/ (Old English fóda, fédan)

- Old English u > y
mouse /m'aus/ vs. mice /m'ais/ (Old English mús, mýs)
proud /pr'aud/ vs. pride /pr'aid/ (Old English prúd, prýde)

- Old English a > e
man /man/ > men /men/ (Old English mann, menn)
long /loŋ/ > length /leŋθ/ (Old English lang, lengthu)
strong /stroŋ/ > strength /streŋθ/ (Old English strang, strengthu)

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