Lexeme (noun)
lek-seem
(linguistics) a lexical unit in a language, as a word or base; vocabulary item. / (linguistics) a minimal meaningful unit of language, the meaning of which cannot be understood from that of its component morphemes. Take off (in the senses to mimic, to become airborne, etc) is a lexeme, as well as the independent morphemes take and off
1935–40; lex(ical) or lex(icon) + -eme
Example sentences
“English language learners can find lexemes and phrasal verbs difficult to get their heads around.”
Collaborative (adj) kol-ab-or-at-iv characterized or accomplished by collaboration (working together) (more…)
Tutelage (noun) toot-lij instruction; teaching; guidance. First recorded around 1595–1605 and comes from the Latin word tūtēl(a), “guardianship,” which derived from the Latin verb tuērī, “to watch.” (more…)
Smorgasbord (noun) smaw-guz-bord an extensive array or variety. First recorded in 1875–80 and comes from the Swedish word smörgåsbord. Smörgåsbord is formed from smörgås, “(slice of) bread and butter, sandwich,”…
Dendroglyph (noun) den-dro-glif an image, message, or symbol carved into a tree, especially by Indigenous people and often hundreds of years old, providing cultural and historical information not available from…
Nimble (adj) nim-bl Agile, quick in movement. / Alert, acute. Old English nǣmel quick to grasp, and numol quick at seizing, both from niman to take (more…)
Petiole (noun) pet-ee-ohl (Botany) the slender stalk by which a leaf is attached to the stem; leafstalk. 1745–55; New Latin petiolus leafstalk, special use of Latin petiolus, scribal variant of…
Preponderant (adj) pree-pon-duh-rant superior in weight, force, influence, numbers, etc.; prevailing. Preponderant was first recorded in 1650–60 and comes from the stem of the Latin word praeponderāns, which is the…
Nebulous (adj) neb-yu-lus Hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused. First recorded in 1375–1425 and comes via late Middle English from the Latin word nebulōsus, meaning “full of mist, foggy, cloudy.” (more…)