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holophrastic

[ hol-uh-fras-tik, hoh-luh- ]
/ ˌhɒl əˈfræs tɪk, ˌhoʊ lə- /
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adjective
using or consisting of a single word that functions as a phrase or sentence.
characterized by holophrasis; polysynthetic: a holophrastic language.
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Origin of holophrastic

1855–60; holo- + -phrastic;see periphrastic

Words nearby holophrastic

Holon, Holophane, holophote, holophrase, holophrasis, holophrastic, holophyte, holophytic, holoplankton, holopneustic, holosericeous
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How to use holophrastic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for holophrastic

holophrastic
/ (ˌhɒləˈfræstɪk) /
adjective
denoting the stage in a child's acquisition of syntax when most utterances are single words
(of languages) tending to express in one word what would be expressed in several words in other languages; polysynthetic

Word Origin for holophrastic

C19: from holo- + Greek phrastikos expressive, from phrazein to express
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
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