hyphen
[ hahy-fuh n ]
/ ˈhaɪ fən /
noun
a short line (-) used to connect the parts of a compound word or the parts of a word divided for any purpose.
verb (used with object)
Origin of hyphen
1595–1605; < Late Latin < Greek
hyphén (adv.) together, derivative of
hyph' hén (prepositional phrase), equivalent to
hyp(ó) under (see
hypo-) +
hén, neuter of
heîs one
OTHER WORDS FROM hyphen
hy·phen·ic [hahy-fen-ik] /haɪˈfɛn ɪk/, adjective de·hy·phen, verb (used with object) un·hy·phened, adjectiveWords nearby hyphen
hypethral,
hypha,
hyphedonia,
hyphema,
hyphemia,
hyphen,
hyphen help,
hyphenate,
hyphenated,
hyphenize,
hyphidrosis
British Dictionary definitions for de-hyphen
hyphen
/ (ˈhaɪfən) /
noun
the punctuation mark (-), used to separate the parts of some compound words, to link the words of a phrase, and between syllables of a word split between two consecutive lines of writing or printing
verb
(tr) another word for hyphenate
Word Origin for hyphen
C17: from Late Latin (meaning: the combining of two words), from Greek
huphen (adv) together, from
hypo- +
heis one
Cultural definitions for de-hyphen
hyphen
A punctuation mark (-) used in some compound words, such as self-motivation, seventy-five, and mother-in-law. A hyphen is also used to divide a word at the end of a line of type. Hyphens may appear only between syllables. Thus com-pound is properly hyphenated, but compo-und is not.