enclitic

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a clitic that is phonologically dependent on and attaches to the preceding word

   Many analyses treat the English possessive 's as an enclitic attached to the end of a noun phrase.

2. 2
   adj

   phonologically attached to a preceding word

   The enclitic particle cannot bear stress independently of its host.

From Late Latin encliticus, from Greek enklitikos ("inclined toward, enclitic"), based on enklinein ("to lean upon"), from en- ("in, on") + klinein ("to lean"). The name reflects the word's phonological dependence on what precedes it.

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