hapax legomenon

American  

[hap-aks li-gom-uh-non, hey-paks] / ˈhæp æks lɪˈgɒm əˌnɒn, ˈheɪ pæks /

noun

plural

hapax legomena

1. a word or phrase that appears only once in a manuscript, document, or particular area of literature.

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hapax legomenon British  

/ ˈhæpæks ləˈɡɒmɪˌnɒn /

noun

1. another term for nonce word

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Etymology

Origin of hapax legomenon

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Greek hápax “once, one time” + legómenon “(being) said,” neuter singular present passive participle of légein “to say”

Example Sentences

It is the commonest word in the lexicon, yet it always reads as a hapax legomenon.

From Project Gutenberg