Dictionary entry

Enclitic

Webster's Dictionary 1913

{ En‐clit″ic (ĕn‐klĭt″ĭk), En‐clit″ic‐al (–ĭ‐kal), } a. [L. encliticus, Gr. εγκλἴτικοσ, fr. εγκλἴνειν to incline; εν̓ in + κλίνειν to bend. See In, and Lean, v. i.] (Gram.) Affixed; subjoined; — said of a word or particle which leans back upon the preceding word so as to become a part of it, and to lose its own independent accent, generally varying also the accent of the preceding word.