polysynthetic

English

Etymology

poly- +‎ synthetic

Pronunciation
  • enPR: pŏlēsĭnthĕt'ĭk, IPA(key): /ˌpɒlisɪnˈθɛtɪk/

Adjective
Examples (grammar)
  • Ojibwe is a polysynthetic language where ngii-nitaa-ozhibii'amaadimin (“we used to write to each other”) is a possible word.

polysynthetic (comparative more polysynthetic, superlative most polysynthetic)

  1. (grammar, of languages) Characterized by a prevalence of relatively long words containing a large number of morphemes. Typically, the morphemes are bound.
    • 1912, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World‎:
      "No doubt, sir," Summerlee answered. "Like all such tribes, I shall expect to find them of polysynthetic speech and of Mongolian type." "Polysynthetic certainly," said Challenger, indulgently.
  2. (mineralogy) Having layers of twin crystals

Translations

See also
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