shillyshallyingly
Syllables
shil-ly-shal-ly-ing-ly
Pronunciation
/ˈʃɪl.i ʃæl.iŋ.li/
Stress
100101
Morphemes
shil- + shally + -ingly
The word 'shilly-shallyingly' is an adverb formed from the reduplicated root 'shilly-shally' and the suffix '-ingly'. It is divided into six syllables: shil-ly-shal-ly-ing-ly, with primary stress on the fifth syllable. Syllabification follows the onset-rime structure, and the reduplication presents a minor edge case due to the addition of the suffix.
Definitions
- 1
In a hesitant, evasive, or indecisive manner.
“He answered the question shilly-shallyingly, clearly unsure of his position.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress on the fifth syllable ('ing'), secondary stress on the first syllable ('shil').
Syllables
shil — Open syllable, onset /ʃ/, rime /ɪl/. ly — Open syllable, onset /l/, rime /i/. shal — Open syllable, onset /ʃ/, rime /æl/. ly — Open syllable, onset /l/, rime /i/. ing — Closed syllable, onset /ɪ/, rime /ŋ/. ly — Open syllable, onset /l/, rime /i/
Word Parts
Onset-Rime
Syllables are divided based on the consonant-vowel structure, identifying the onset and rime of each syllable.
- The reduplicated nature of 'shilly-shally' could potentially lead to a single prosodic unit, but the addition of '-ingly' necessitates a more detailed syllabification.
- Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter vowel qualities, but the syllable division would likely remain consistent.
Nearby Words
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