zero-grade
nounEtymology From zero + grade, as in gradation (“apophony”). Possibly after German Nullstufe.
1
In Proto-Indo-European linguistics, an ablaut form of a root characterized by the absence of the basic ablauting vowel phonemes */e/ and */o/.
Indo-European linguistics
- *bʰr̥- is the zero-grade of the Indo-European root *bʰer- meaning “to carry, bear”.