N

N N ([e^]n), the fourteenth letter of English alphabet, is a vocal consonent, and, in allusion to its mode of formation, is called the dentinasal or linguanasal consonent. Its commoner sound is that heard in ran, done; but when immediately followed in the same word by the sound of g hard or k (as in single, sink, conquer), it usually represents the same sound as the digraph ng in sing, bring, etc. This is a simple but related sound, and is called the gutturo-nasal consonent. See {Guide to Pronunciation}, [sect][sect] 243-246. [1913 Webster]

Note: The letter N came into English through the Latin and Greek from the Ph[oe]nician, which probably derived it from the Egyptian as the ultimate origin. It is etymologically most closely related to M. See {M}. [1913 Webster]