enclitic

(en klitik)

adjective

Gram. dependent on the preceding word for its stress: said as of a word that has lost its stress in combination (Ex.: man in layman), or of certain particles, as in classical Greek

Origin: LL encliticus < Gr enklitikos < enklinein, to lean toward, incline < en-, in + klinein, to lean

noun

any such word or particle

See enclitic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A clitic that is attached to the end of another word. In Give 'em the works, the pronoun 'em is an enclitic.
  2. A clitic.
adjective
Of or relating to an enclitic or enclisis; forming an accentual unit with the preceding word.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin encliticus

Origin: , from Greek enklitikos

Origin: , from enklīnein, to lean on

Origin: : en-, on, in; see en-2

Origin: + klīnein, to lean; see klei- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

  • en·clitˈi·cizeˌ (-ə-sīzˌ) verb
  • en·clitˌi·ci·zaˈtion (-ə-sĭ-zāˈshən), en·clisˈis (-klĭsˈĭs) noun

Learn more about enclitic

link/cite print suggestion box