polysynthetic

[ pol-ee-sin-thet-ik ]

adjective

1. (of a language) characterized by a prevalence of relatively long words containing a large number of affixes to express syntactic relationships and meanings. Many American Indian languages are polysynthetic. Compare analytic ( def 3 ), synthetic ( def 3 ).
2. of or relating to polysynthesism.

polysynthetic

/ ˌpɒlɪsɪnˈθɛtɪk; ˌpɒlɪˈsɪnθɪsɪs /

adjective

1. denoting languages, such as Inuktitut, in which single words may express the meaning of whole phrases or clauses by virtue of multiple affixes Compare synthetic analytic agglutinative

Derived Forms

• ˌpolysynˈthetically, adverb
• polysynthesis, noun
• ˌpolyˈsynthesism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of polysynthetic¹

1795–1805; < Late Greek polysýnthet ( os ) much compounded + -ic. See poly-, synthetic

Example Sentences

A polysynthetic language illustrates no principles that are not already exemplified in the more familiar synthetic languages.

From Project Gutenberg

Polysynthet′icism, Polysyn′thetism, the character of being polysynthetic.

From Project Gutenberg

This polysynthetic character undoubtedly does point to a common origin, just as the Indo-European tongues trace back to Sanskrit.

From Project Gutenberg

They may also be crossed by bars or stripes, each of which indicates a twin plate, for the crystals are usually polysynthetic.

From Project Gutenberg

The general character in this respect has caused the term Polysynthetic to be applied to the American languages.

From Project Gutenberg