Gemination
/ˌdʒɛmɪˈneɪʃən/noun
The doubling or repetition of a consonant sound or letter in a word.
Did you know?Gemination comes from Latin *geminatio*, from *geminare* “to make double,” ultimately tied to *geminus* “twin,” so the word itself carries the ancient idea that doubling creates force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dwo-
“two”
Latin
Latin
geminus
“twin; paired”
Latin
Latin
geminare
“to pair, to double”
Latin
Latin
geminatio
“a doubling; repetition”
Middle English
English
geminacioun
“doubling or repetition, especially of a sound”
Modern English
English
gemination
“the doubling of a consonant sound or letter”