E

E, fifth letter of the alphabet. It is a usual symbol for a mid-front vowel, such as e in the English step. A mid-front vowel was represented by Greek epsilon [Gr.,=e without the aspirate], to which E corresponds in form and place (see also H). English ē is pronounced as a diphthong of i and y. In musical notation E represents a note in the scale.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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