proclitic

[proh-klit-ik]

adjective

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

noun

1. a proclitic word.

proclitic

/ prəʊˈklɪtɪk /

adjective

1. 1. relating to or denoting a monosyllabic word or form having no stress or accent and pronounced as a prefix of the following word, as in English 't for it in 'twas

   2. (in classical Greek) relating to or denoting a word that throws its accent onto the following word

noun

1. a proclitic word or form

Word History and Origins

Origin of proclitic¹

1840–50; < New Latin proclīticus; modeled on enclitic; pro- ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of proclitic¹

C19: from New Latin proclīticus, from Greek proklinein to lean forwards; formed on the model of _enclitic

Example Sentences

Orthotonē′sis, accentuation of a proclitic or enclitic—opp. to Enclisis.

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Proclitic, prō-klit′ik, adj. dependent in accent upon the following word.—n. a monosyllabic word which depends so much on the following word as to lose its accent.

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This contraction is employed only when the article is metrically placed as a proclitic before another word, and is thereby shorn of its separate pronunciation as follows: Th' ambitious bard a nobler theme essays.

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If the epithet suffix is a monosyllable, the accent of the compounded word is on the last syllable; if not, the accent is usually on the last but one, but the intervening article or preposition is always a proclitic, and is disregarded as to accent. 

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