Circumflex
/ˈsɝː.kəm.flɛks/noun
A diacritical mark (ˆ) used in some languages to indicate changes in pronunciation or stress.
Did you know?The circumflex comes from Greek scribal practice, where its shape reflected a pitch movement in pronunciation, not just a decorative accent.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰleg-
“to bend, curve”
Latin
Latin
circumflexus
“bent around, curved around”
Late Latin / Greek
Latin/Greek
circumflexus / perispōmenon
“bent around; the Greek accent mark indicating a changed pitch”
Middle French
Old French
circonflexe
“the circumflex accent”
Modern English
English
circumflex
“a diacritical mark, especially ˆ”
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