word-initial - Meaning, Image, Examples & Etymology - Learn English Visually

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word-initial

|word-i-ni-tial|

🇺🇸

/ˈwɝd ɪˌnɪʃəl/

🇬🇧

/ˈwɜːd ɪˌnɪʃəl/

at the beginning of a word

Etymology

Etymology Information

'word-initial' originates from combining the English word 'word' and the adjective 'initial'. 'word' comes from Old English 'word' meaning 'word', and 'initial' comes ultimately from Latin 'initium' via Late Latin 'initialis' meaning 'beginning'.

Historical Evolution

'initial' entered English via Old French/Latin influence (Late Latin 'initialis' from Latin 'initium' meaning 'beginning') and was later combined with the native English 'word' to form the hyphenated compound 'word-initial' used in linguistic descriptions.

Meaning Changes

Initially the elements meant 'word' and 'beginning'; combined as 'word-initial' their meaning has been straightforwardly compositional: 'located at the beginning of a word.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

occurring at the beginning of a word; in the position that marks the start of a word (e.g., a sound or letter that appears at the start of a word).

Voiceless stops are often aspirated in word-initial position.

Synonyms

initial (position)word-beginningpreinitial

Antonyms

word-final word-medial

Adverb 1

adverbial form meaning 'at or in the beginning of a word' (this is the adverbial form of 'word-initial').

Vowels are often lengthened word-initially.

Synonyms