Word Origin
(of a word) closely connected in pronunciation with the preceding word and not having an independent accent or phonological status. Show More
an enclitic word, as Latin que “and” in arma virumque, “arms and the man.” Show More
Origin of enclitic 1650–60; <
Late Latin encliticus <
Greek enklitikós, equivalent to
en- en-2 +
klít(os ) slope +
-ikos -ic Related forms en·clit·i·cal·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for enclitic 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 Show More
an enclitic word or linguistic form Show More
Derived Forms enclitically , 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
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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.)).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
