hyphen

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The punctuation mark (-) used to join words in a compound or to split a word at the end of a line.

   The word "well-known" is written with a hyphen.

2. 2
   verb

   To join or divide words with a hyphen.

   You should hyphen the two words when they describe a noun.

From Late Latin, from Ancient Greek ὑφέν (huphén, “together”), contracted from ὑφ’ ἕν (huph’ hén, “under one”), from ὑπό (hupó, “under”) + ἕν (hén, “one”), neuter of εἷς (heîs, “one”).

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