clitic

[ klit-ik ]

adjective

1. (of a word) functioning as a bound form; closely connected in pronunciation with a preceding or following word and not having an independent accent or phonological status.

noun

1. a clitic word; enclitic or proclitic.

clitic

/ ˈklɪtɪk /

adjective

1. (of a word) incapable of being stressed, usually pronounced as if part of the word that follows or precedes it: for example, in French, me, te, and le are clitic pronouns See also proclitic enclitic

noun

1. a clitic word

Word History and Origins

Origin of clitic¹

1945–50; extracted from enclitic and proclitic

Word History and Origins

Origin of clitic¹

C20: back formation from enclitic and proclitic