Caunterbury

== Middle English == === Alternative forms === Canterbiri, Canterburi, Canterbury, Cantirbery, Canturbery, Caunterbery, Caunterbiri, Caunturbiri, Caunturbyry, Caunterbiry, Caunterburi, Cauntirbury, Cawnterbery, Kanterburi, Kaunterburi, Kaunturbury Cauntelbury, Cauntilburye (with dissimilation of /r/ to /l/) === Etymology === From Old English Cantwarbyriġ, late form of Cantwara byriġ, dative and genitive of Cantwara burg. The pronunciation with /au̯/ could just be analogy with variation between /au̯/ and /a/ in other words, but the influence of the lost /w/ in Old English Cantwara byriġ is also possible. Such a development is also seen in aunswere, variant of answere (“answer”); this is not a mere backspelling, as orthoepists commonly give pronunciations of answer with reflexes of /au̯/ in the Early Modern English period. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈkau̯ntərˌburiː/, /ˈkantərˌburiː/, /-ˌbɛriː/, /-ˌbiriː/ IPA(key): /ˈkau̯ntəl-/, /ˈkantəl-/ (with dissimilation of /r/ to /l/) === Proper noun === Caunterbury Canterbury (a cathedral city in modern Kent, England) ==== Descendants ==== English: Canterbury (obsolete Cantelbury) → Middle Dutch: Cantelburch, Cantellenborch Dutch: Kantelburg, Kantelberg (obsolete) → Middle High German: Candelberc German: Kantelburg (obsolete) → Middle Welsh: Kawntlberi === References ===