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proclitic

[proh-klit-ik]Grammar
adjective
  1. (of a word) closely connected in pronunciation with the following word and not having an independent accent or phonological status.
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noun
  1. a proclitic word.
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Origin of proclitic

1840–50; < New Latin proclīticus; modeled on enclitic; see pro-2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for proclitic

proclitic

adjective
    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
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noun
  1. a proclitic word or form
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Compare enclitic

Word Origin for proclitic

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

Word Origin and History for proclitic

adj.

1846, from Medieval Latin procliticus, formed on analogy of encliticus from Greek proklinein "to lean forward," from pro- "forward" (see pro-) + klinein "to lean" (see lean (v.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper