First Known Use: 1766
Dictionary
monosyllabic
adjective mono·syl·lab·ic \ˌmä-nə-sə-ˈla-bik\
: having only one syllable : made up of words that have only one syllable
: saying very little or responding with one-syllable words
Full Definition of MONOSYLLABIC
1
: consisting of one syllable or of monosyllables
2
: using or speaking only monosyllables
3
: conspicuously brief in answering or commenting : terse
— mono·syl·lab·i·cal·ly \-bi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
— mono·syl·la·bic·i·ty \-ˌsi-lə-ˈbi-sə-tē\ noun
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Origin of MONOSYLLABIC
probably from French monosyllabique, from monosyllabe
Related to MONOSYLLABIC
- Synonyms
- aphoristic, apothegmatic, brief, capsule, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, concise, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnail
- Antonyms
- circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
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