enclitic, a. and n. Gram.
(ɛnˈklɪtɪk)
Also 8 enclytick.
[ad. L. enclitic-us, a. Gr. ἐγκλιτικ-ός, f. ἐν on + κλίνειν to lean.]
A. adj. That ‘leans its accent on the preceding word’ (Liddell and Scott): in Greek grammar the distinctive epithet of those words which have no accent, and which (when phonetic laws permit) cause a secondary accent to be laid on the last syllable of the word which they follow. Hence applied to the analogous Latin particles -que, -ve, -ne, etc., and in mod. use (with extension of sense) to those unemphatic words in other langs. that are treated in pronunciation as if forming part of the preceding word.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., Enclitick, that inclines or gives back. 1750 Harris Hermes i. v. (1786) 85 note, The Diversity between the Contradistinctive Pronouns, and the Enclitic, is not unknown even to the English Tongue. 1855 Browning Grammarian's Funeral, Gave us the doctrine of the enclitic De. 1867 Rawlinson Anc. Mon. IV. iv. 227 The pronouns had in certain cases an enclitic form. |
B. n. An enclitic word.
| 1663 in Bullokar. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 18 ¶1 They are busy in making Emendations upon some Encliticks in a Greek Author. 1750 Harris Hermes i. v. (T.), When we say, ‘Give me content’, the me in this case is a perfect enclitick. 1878 Parry Grk. Gram. 175 If several Enclitics come together, each throws its accent on the preceding. |