clitic Gram.
(ˈklɪtɪk)
[f. enclitic a. and n., proclitic a. and n.]
An enclitic or proclitic (see quot. 1946). Also attrib.
| 1946 E. A. Nida Morphology vii. 155 Many languages have elements that (1) combine phonologically with words with which they do not form morphological constructions, and (2) do not constitute derivational or inflectional formatives... The term ‘clitics’ may..be employed in this general meaning. Ibid., The word is occurs in the following types of clitic forms: [iz] in Bess's (going) [etc.]. 1964 Language XL. 79 When BI occurs with the plural clitic -h it is reduced to a labial component of a complex phoneme. |