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 γ was a kind of aspirate called from the manner of writing it Digamma (r). This aspirate was carried by the Pelasgic race into Italy, and remained in Latin as a real consonant, V, as may be seen from many words originally Greek, such as *Fōnum*, *Fōnum*, *vīnum*, *vīnum*. 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.