diaeresis

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A separation of one syllable (especially a vowel which is a diphthong, that is, beginning with one sound and ending with another) into two distinct syllables; distraction.

   “Synaeresis, the opposite of Diaëresis, is the throwing of two syllables into one; as, Seest for seëst. Looked for look-ed.”

2. (countable, uncountable)An occurrence of separate vowel sounds in adjacent syllables without an intervening consonant; a hiatus.
3. (countable, uncountable)The diacritical mark consisting of two dots (¨) placed over a letter (especially the second of two consecutive vowels) to indicate that it is sounded separately, usually as a distinct syllable.

   “Diæreſis is vvhen tvvo points ouer a vovvell diuide it from another vovvel, as bouë, queuë, read bou-e, queu-e, not bo-ue, que-ue.”

   “The Diæresis is used to divide a diphthong into two syllables; as, Creätor.”

4. (countable, figuratively, rare, rhetoric, uncountable)A division, a separation.
5. (countable, uncountable)A natural break in rhythm when a word ends at the end of a metrical foot in a line of verse.
6. (archaic, countable, uncountable)An act of separating body parts or tissues which are normally together.

   “There are four^([sic]) manners of performing the Diæreſis: viz. by Cutting, Pricking, Tearing, Dravving, and Burning.”