enclitic

American  

[en-klit-ik] / ɛnˈklɪt ɪk /

adjective

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

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noun

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

enclitic British  

/ 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

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noun

1. an enclitic word or linguistic form

Other Word Forms

• enclitically adverb

Etymology

Origin of enclitic

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

Example Sentences

He settled Hoti's business�let it be!�Properly based Oun� Gave us the doctrine of the enclitic De .

From Time Magazine Archive

Fiction, I'll bet a sovereign, unless it is an essay on extending the sphere of feminine usefulness, or on the doctrine of the enclitic De, or on First Aid to the Sick and Wounded.

From The Tree of Knowledge A Novel by Reynolds, Mrs. Baillie

Sir,— In a clever article this morning you speak of `the doctrine of the enclitic De'—`which, with all deference to Mr. Browning, in point of fact does not exist.'

From An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's Poetry by Corson, Hiram

From earliest times some words have become parasitic or enclitic upon other words.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

Properly based Oun— 130 Gave us the doctrine of the enclitic De, Dead from the waist down.

From Dramatic Romances by Browning, Robert