| epenthesis |
| Definition: Inserting a consonant, vowel, or syllable into a word to make it easier to pronounce. |
| Example:
(1) The name Dwight becomes Du-wight and (2) the word mischievous becomes mis – chee – vee – ous. |
| Etymology: The word derives from the Greek epi, on + en, in + thesis, putting. |
| Oxford English Dictionary: Its first citation is from 1657: "Epenthesis is the interposition of a letter or syllable in the midst of a word." (J. Smith Myst. Rhet. 171) |