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ca·coph·o·nous

(kə-kŏfə-nəs)

adj.

Having a harsh, unpleasant sound; discordant.

[From Greek kakophōnos : kakos, bad; see kakka- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + phōnē, sound; see bhā-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

ca·copho·nous·ly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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