tmesis

[tuh-mee-sis]

noun

1. the interpolation of one or more words between the parts of a compound word, as be thou ware for beware.

tmesis

/ ˈmiːsɪs, təˈmiːsɪs /

noun

1. interpolation of a word or group of words between the parts of a compound word

Other Word Forms

• tmetic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tmesis¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin tmēsis, from Greek tmêsis “a cutting,” equivalent to tmē- (variant stem of témnein “to cut”) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of tmesis¹

C16: via Latin from Greek, literally: a cutting, from temnein to cut