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Webster 1913 Edition


Polysynthetic

Polˊy-syn-thet′ic

(pŏlˊĭ-sĭn-thĕt′ĭk)
,
Adj.
[
Poly-
+
synthetic
.]
Characterized by polysynthesis; agglutinative.
Polysynthetic twinning
(Min.)
,
repeated twinning, like that of the triclinic feldspar, producing fine parallel bands in alternately reversed positions.

Definition 2024


polysynthetic

polysynthetic

English

Adjective

polysynthetic (comparative more polysynthetic, superlative most polysynthetic)

  1. (grammar) said of a language, characterized by a prevalence of relatively long words containing a large number of morphemes. Typically, the morphemes are bound (i.e., they cannot stand alone as independent words). An example of a polysynthetic language is Ojibwe, where:
    • baataanitaaanishinaabemong = "being able to speak Ojibwe."
    • ngiinitaaozhibii'amaadimin = "we used to write to each other."
  2. (mineralogy) Having layers of twin crystals

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