In morphology and syntax, a clitic (/ ˈklɪtɪk / KLIT-ik, backformed from Greek ἐγκλιτικός enklitikós "leaning" or "enclitic" [1]) is a morpheme that has syntactic characteristics of a word, but depends phonologically on another word or phrase.

The meaning of CLITIC is a word that is treated in pronunciation as forming a part of a neighboring word and that is often unaccented or contracted. Contractions Are Full of Clitics.

Jul 21, 2019 · A clitic is a word or part of a word that's structurally dependent on a neighboring word and cannot stand on its own.

Jan 2, 2025 · (linguistics) A morpheme that functions like a word, but never appears as an independent word, instead being always attached to a following or preceding word (or, in some cases, within a surrounding word).

2 meanings: 1. (of a word) incapable of being stressed, usually pronounced as if part of the word that follows or precedes it:.... Click for more definitions.

Define clitic. clitic synonyms, clitic pronunciation, clitic translation, English dictionary definition of clitic. n. An unstressed word, typically a function word, that is incapable of standing on its own and attaches in pronunciation to a stressed word, with which it...

What does the noun clitic mean? There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun clitic . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

Definition of clitic noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Clitic definition: An unstressed word, typically a function word, that is incapable of standing on its own and attaches in pronunciation to a stressed word, with which it forms a single accentual unit.

clitic: An unstressed word, typically a function word, that is incapable of standing on its own and attaches in pronunciation to a stressed word, with which it forms a single accentual unit. Examples of clitics are the pronoun ’em in I see ’em and the definite article in French l'arme, “the arm.”