enclitic

[ en-klit-ik ]
/ ɛnˈklɪt ɪk /

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.”

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of enclitic

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

OTHER WORDS FROM enclitic

en·clit·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby enclitic

Encke's division, encl., en clair, enclasp, enclave, enclitic, enclose, enclosed order, enclosure, enclosure act, enclothe
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for enclitic

enclitic
/ (ɪnˈklɪtɪk) /

adjective

  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

an enclitic word or linguistic form
Compare proclitic

Derived forms of enclitic

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012