vbl. sb. [f. VOWEL v. + -ING1.]
1. † a. The articulation of vowels in singing. Obs.
c. 1500. Proverbis, in Antiq. Rep., IV. 406. Perfite vowellynge of a songe, to the eere is delectable.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 284. Shee performed both so sweetely, as well for the ayring of her notes, as the vowelling of her words.
b. The pronunciation of vowels in speech.
1879. G. Macdonald, Sir Gibbie, xxv. The grand organ roll of it [Paradise Lost] losing nothing in the Scotch voweling.
2. The insertion of vowels or vowel-signs.
1627. W. Sclater, Exp. 2 Thess. (1629), 95. It is reported of Ioab, that when his Teacher taught him to corrupt the text but in the vowelling, he slew him without ransome.
1870. Athenæum, 11 June, 785/1. Our E. V., following the vowelling assigned to the Hebrew by the Rabbins, renders them ‘for ever.’
1880. Encycl. Brit., XI. 797/1. The vowelling of Greek and Latin proper names shews that the vagueness of the vowels was not absolute.
