enclitic

[ en-klit-ik ]

adjective

1. (of a word) closely connected in pronunciation with the preceding word and not having an independent accent or phonological status.

noun

1. an enclitic word, as Latin que “and” in arma virumque, “arms and the man.”

enclitic

/ ɪnˈklɪtɪk /

adjective

1. 1. denoting or relating to a monosyllabic word or form that is treated as a suffix of the preceding word, as Latin -que in populusque
   2. (in classical Greek) denoting or relating to a word that throws an accent back onto the preceding word

noun

1. an enclitic word or linguistic form

Derived Forms

• enˈclitically, adverb

Other Words From

• en·cliti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of enclitic¹

1650–60; < Late Latin encliticus < Greek enklitikós, equivalent to en- en- ² + klít ( os ) slope + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of enclitic¹

C17: from Late Latin encliticus, from Greek enklitikos, from enklinein to cause to lean, from en- ² + klinein to lean