illegitimateness
Syllables
il-le-gi-ti-mate-ness
Pronunciation
/ɪlɪˈdʒɪtɪmeɪtnəs/
Stress
000010
Morphemes
il- + legit- + -imate-ness
The word 'illegitimateness' is divided into six syllables: il-le-gi-ti-mate-ness. The primary stress falls on 'mate'. It's a noun formed from a Latin root with negative and suffixal additions. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and affix boundaries.
Definitions
- 1
The state or quality of not being legitimate; lack of lawful origin or claim.
“The illegitimateness of his claim to the throne was widely debated.”
“The court ruled on the illegitimateness of the contract.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('mate'). The stress pattern is typical for words with multiple suffixes.
Syllables
il — Open syllable, weak stress.. le — Open syllable, weak stress.. gi — Closed syllable, weak stress.. ti — Closed syllable, weak stress.. mate — Stressed syllable, open.. ness — Closed syllable, weak stress.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel-Liquid Combination
The 'il' syllable is formed by a vowel followed by a liquid consonant.
Syllable Division around Affixes
Syllables are divided before and after prefixes and suffixes.
Consonant-Vowel
Syllables are divided between consonant and vowel sounds.
- The length and complexity of the word can lead to variations in pronunciation and syllable division.
- The '-mate' suffix can sometimes be ambiguous, but in this context, it clearly functions as part of the adjective-forming suffix.
Nearby Words
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