fortis

1. not comparablehuman sciencesRelatively strongly articulated, hence voiceless and possibly aspirated; especially as compared to the others of a group of homorganic consonants.

   Unaspirated [p] is fortis in French, the corresponding lenis consonant being [b]. The same sound is lenis in Danish, the corresponding fortis consonant being [pʰ].

   1 more example

   All vowels, whether short or complex, are relatively shorter when followed by a fortis consonant and relatively longer when followed by a lenis one or, for those where this is possible, when no consonant follows (in free or unchecked syllables).

   2004, Stephan Gramley, Michael Pätzold, A Survey of Modern English, Routledge, →ISBN, page 80

   Synonyms: tense · Antonyms: lenis

plural fortes

1. human sciencesA fortis consonant.

1. pluralplural of Forti