downattheheel
The word 'down-at-the-heel' is a compound adjective with primary stress on 'down'. Syllabification follows standard English rules, dividing the word into four syllables: down-at-the-heel. Each syllable is formed based on vowel-consonant patterns, resulting in open and closed syllables.
Definitions
- 1
In a poor or dilapidated condition; shabby; worn out.
“The old car looked rather down-at-the-heel.”
“He was wearing a down-at-the-heel pair of shoes.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the first syllable, 'down'.
Syllables
down — Open syllable, primary stress.. at — Closed syllable, unstressed.. the — Open syllable, unstressed.. heel — Closed syllable, unstressed.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Open Syllable
Vowel followed by a consonant, forming a single syllable (e.g., 'down', 'at', 'the').
Closed Syllable
Vowel followed by a consonant, forming a single syllable (e.g., 'heel').
- The compound nature of the word does not introduce any unusual syllabification challenges.
Nearby Words
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