hypotaxis
|hy-po-tax-is|
/ˌhaɪpəˈtæksɪs/
subordinate arrangement
Etymology
'hypotaxis' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ὑποταξίς (hypotaxis)', where 'hypo-' meant 'under' and 'taxis' meant 'arrangement'.
'hypotaxis' changed from the Greek word 'hypotaxis' into Late Latin 'hypotaxis', and through scholarly borrowing entered modern English as 'hypotaxis'.
Initially, it meant 'the act of arranging under or subordinating,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the subordination of clauses; use of subordinate constructions.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the grammatical or rhetorical arrangement in which clauses or phrases are subordinated to one another; subordination (opposite of parataxis).
The author's use of hypotaxis produces long, complex sentences full of subordinate clauses.
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Noun 2
a stylistic tendency in writing or speech characterized by using subordinate constructions and subordinating conjunctions (a hypotactic style).
Critics noted the poet's hypotaxis, which gave his lines a tightly controlled, hierarchical feel.
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Last updated: 2025/10/21 20:52