selfeffacingness
Syllables
self-ef-fac-ing-ness
Pronunciation
/selfˈef.eɪ.sɪŋ.nəs/
Stress
00110
Morphemes
self + face + ness
The word 'self-effacingness' is divided into five syllables: self-ef-fac-ing-ness. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('ing'). It is a noun formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'face', and the suffixes '-ing' and '-ness'. Syllable division follows principles of onset maximization, vowel peak, and avoidance of stranded consonants, respecting morphemic boundaries.
Definitions
- 1
The quality of being modest and unwilling to draw attention to oneself; shyness or humility.
“Her self-effacingness was endearing.”
“He displayed a remarkable degree of self-effacingness.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('ing'). The first syllable ('self') receives weak stress. The remaining syllables are unstressed.
Syllables
self — Open syllable, initial syllable, stressed (weakly).. ef — Closed syllable, contains a short vowel.. fac — Closed syllable, contains a diphthong, stressed.. ing — Closed syllable, nasal consonant ending, stressed.. ness — Closed syllable, final syllable, unstressed.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Onset Maximization
Consonant clusters are kept together at the beginning of syllables (e.g., 'self').
Vowel Peak Principle
Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
Avoidance of Stranded Consonants
Consonants are not left at the end of a syllable unless they form part of a consonant cluster.
Morphological Boundaries
Syllable division often respects morphemic boundaries (e.g., self-ef-).
- The interfix '-ef-' is a potential point of variation, but its inclusion is consistent with etymology.
- Possible vowel reduction in 'effacing' in some regional accents.
Nearby Words
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