DIGAMMA, an obsolete letter of the Greek alphabet, equivalent in sound to the English r. In the Æolic, and sometimes in the Ionic dialect, the old Greek was a kind of aspirate called from the manner of writing it Digamma (). This aspirate was carried by the Pelasgic race into
Digby
Digestion. Italy, and remained in Latin as a real consonant, V, as may be seen from many words originally Greek, such as Foivos, Foikos, vinum, vicus. It disappeared from the Greek tongue so early that it ceased to be written in the Homeric poems; and many even deny its influence in softening the hiatus, while others allow this effect even in Pindar.