Definition of Polysynthetic

1. Adjective. Forming derivative or compound words by putting together constituents each of which expresses a single definite meaning.

Exact synonyms: Agglutinative
Similar to: Synthetic
Derivative terms: Agglutinate

Definition of Polysynthetic

1. a. Characterized by polysynthesis; agglutinative.

Definition of Polysynthetic

1. Adjective. (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: ¹

2. Adjective. (minerology) Having layers of twin crystals ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Medical Definition of Polysynthetic

1. Characterised by polysynthesis; agglutinative. Polysynthetic twinning, repeated twinning, like that of the triclinic feldspar, producing fine parallel bands in alternately reversed positions. Origin: Poly- + synthetic. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Polysynthetic

polysyllabicity
polysyllabics
polysyllabism
polysyllabisms
polysyllable
polysyllables
polysymbrachydactyly
polysynaptic
polysyndactyly
polysyndetic
polysyndeton
polysyndetons
polysynody
polysyntheses
polysynthesis
polysynthetic (current term)
polysynthetic twinning
polysynthetically
polysyntheticism
polysyntheticisms
polysystemic
polysystemicity
polytan
polytans
polytech
polytechnic
polytechnic institute
polytechnical
polytechnics
polytechs

Literary usage of Polysynthetic

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Introduction to the Science of Language by Archibald Henry Sayce (1880)
"PUTTING aside the polysynthetic dialects of America, the majority of the languages of the world belong to the agglutinative class. ..."

2. Introduction to Anthropology by Theodor Waitz (1863)
"The American languages, which are called polysynthetic, are so characterized that they usually consist of an agglomeration of independent words : thus, ..."

3. Introduction to Anthropology by Theodor Waitz (1863)
"The American languages, which are called polysynthetic, are so characterized that they usually consist of an agglomeration of independent words : thus, ..."

4. Ethnology by Augustus Henry Keane (1896)
"... the structure of the languages of the Old "World—Surprising number of American stock languages despite their common polysynthetic type—Classification of ..."

5. The Metallography of Steel and Cast Iron by Henry Marion Howe (1916)
"polysynthetic or Multiple Twinning.—Because it is the pressure of the knife blade in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 94 that rocked the corner 1 Groth, ..."

6. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"If we pass to an isolating language like Chinese, we find the exact converse of that which meets us in the polysynthetic tongues. Here each proposition or ..."

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