asyllabic
|a-syl-la-bic|
/ˌeɪsɪˈlæbɪk/
not syllabic / lacking a syllable
Etymology
'asyllabic' originates from Greek elements: the privative prefix 'a-' meaning 'not' combined with 'syllabic', which derives from Greek 'sullabē' via Latin 'syllaba' (meaning 'syllable').
'asyllabic' formed in English from the combining of the Greek-derived prefix 'a-' + English 'syllabic' (from Latin 'syllaba', from Greek 'sullabē'); the negative prefix was attached to the established adjective 'syllabic' to create the opposite sense.
Initially and historically it has meant 'not syllabic' or 'lacking syllables'; this core meaning has been retained in modern usage, though it is used more technically in phonetics.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not having syllables; lacking syllabic structure (of a word, sound, or utterance).
In some rapid speech contexts the vowel becomes effectively asyllabic.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
(Phonetics) Describing a segment (often a consonant) that does not form or act as a syllable nucleus.
The consonant is asyllabic here and cannot serve as the syllable nucleus.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/29 01:16