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View synonyms for hyphen

hyphen

[ hahy-fuhn ]

noun

  1. a short line (-) used to connect the parts of a compound word or the parts of a word divided for any purpose.


verb (used with object)

hyphen

/ ˈhaɪfən /

noun

  1. the punctuation mark (-), used to separate the parts of some compound words, to link the words of a phrase, and between syllables of a word split between two consecutive lines of writing or printing
“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


verb

  1. tr another word for hyphenate
“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

hyphen

  1. A punctuation mark (-) used in some compound words, such as self-motivation , seventy-five , and mother-in-law . A hyphen is also used to divide a word at the end of a line of type. Hyphens may appear only between syllables . Thus com-pound is properly hyphenated, but compo-und is not.


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Other Words From

  • hy·phen·ic [hahy-, fen, -ik], adjective
  • de·hyphen verb (used with object)
  • un·hyphened adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hyphen1

1595–1605; < Late Latin < Greek hyphén (adv.) together, derivative of hyph' hén (prepositional phrase), equivalent to hyp ( ó ) under ( hypo- ) + hén, neuter of heîs one
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hyphen1

C17: from Late Latin (meaning: the combining of two words), from Greek huphen (adv) together, from hypo- + heis one
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Example Sentences

Hyphen, a San Jose-based startup founded four years ago, created the Augmented Makeline.

The reform will allow both partners to take on a double surname, with or without a hyphen, and for their children to take that name too.

Or perhaps the story of his panic at seeing a post-it note saying "please re-sign" on some documents, and not noticing the hyphen, wondered what he'd done to justify having to quit.

From BBC

However, the minister warned "we have seen in the past how changing just one letter in a town or village name, or adding a hyphen to harmonize spelling, can lead to fierce disagreements in local communities".

From BBC

“When you put a hyphen between two things, it almost makes it sound like they're somehow equal,” Zahr said.

From Salon

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