holophrastic

[ hol-uh-fras-tik, hoh-luh- ]

adjective

1. using or consisting of a single word that functions as a phrase or sentence.
2. characterized by holophrasis; polysynthetic:

   a holophrastic language.

holophrastic

/ ˌhɒləˈfræstɪk /

adjective

1. denoting the stage in a child's acquisition of syntax when most utterances are single words
2. (of languages) tending to express in one word what would be expressed in several words in other languages; polysynthetic

Word History and Origins

Origin of holophrastic¹

1855–60; holo- + -phrastic; periphrastic

Word History and Origins

Origin of holophrastic¹

C19: from holo- + Greek phrastikos expressive, from phrazein to express

Example Sentences

Holophrastic, hol-o-fras′tik, adj. bearing the force of a whole phrase, expressive of a sentence or an idea.

From Project Gutenberg