MUTE

MUTE, in Grammar, a letter which yields no sound without the addition of a vowel. The simple consonants are distinguished into mutes and liquids, or semi-vowels. The mutes in the Greek alphabet are nine, three of which, $\backslash sigma$, $\backslash tau$, $\backslash rho$, are termed tenues; three, $\backslash beta$, $\backslash gamma$, $\backslash delta$, media; and three, $\backslash phi$, $\backslash chi$, $\backslash psi$, aspiratae. The mutes of the Latin alphabet are also nine, viz. B, C, D, G, I, K, P, Q, T.