It just doesn't make sense. "Define" has a long vowel and "definition" has short. Isn't "definition" the noun form of "define"? Shouldn't both have the same vowels? Why are both pronounced differently? Can someone explain it please?
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4Does this answer your question? Why are "south" and "southern" pronounced with different vowels? – Void Feb 05 '21 at 12:41
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Define - definition, divine - divinity, pronounce - pronunciation, south - southern, derive - derivative etc., are all because of Trisyllabic Laxing. – Void Feb 05 '21 at 12:44
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"It just doesn't make sense" - welcome to English pronunciation. – stangdon Feb 05 '21 at 16:32
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Probably because "define" ends with a silent e but "definition" does not.
USERNAME GOES HERE
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Nah, it's not because of the so-called 'silent e' (cf. 'south' which doesn't have a silent e). – Void Feb 05 '21 at 13:42
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@Void Oops. If so, I don't know XD. Should I delete my answer? – USERNAME GOES HERE Feb 05 '21 at 13:43
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Up to you.. But I think it's reasonable to say that 'define - definition' is because of the silent e :) – Void Feb 05 '21 at 13:44
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