enclitic

[en-klit-ik]

adjective

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

noun

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

Origin of enclitic

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

Related formsen·clit·i·cal·ly, adverb

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British Dictionary definitions for enclitic

enclitic

adjective

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

noun

an enclitic word or linguistic form

Compare proclitic

Derived Formsenclitically, adverb

Word Origin for enclitic

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for enclitic

1650s (adj.); 1660s (n.), from Late Latin encliticus, from Greek enklitikos "throwing its accent back," literally "leaning on," from verbal adjectival stem of enklinein "to bend, lean on," from en (see en- (2)) + klinein "to lean" (see lean (v.)).