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Hyphenation ofsuperdevilishness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

su-per-dev-il-ish-ness

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˌsuːpəˈdevɪlɪʃnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('il'), indicated by '1'. Other syllables are unstressed ('0').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

su/suː/

Open syllable, long vowel sound.

per/pə/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

dev/dev/

Closed syllable, CVC structure.

il/ɪl/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by 'l' acting as a consonant, primary stress.

ish/ɪʃ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster 'sh'.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, CVC structure.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

super-(prefix)
+
devil(root)
+
-ishness(suffix)

Prefix: super-

Latin origin, intensifier.

Root: devil

Old French/Latin origin, core meaning of evil.

Suffix: -ishness

English suffixes, forming adjective and then noun.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Extreme or excessive wickedness or evil.

Examples:

"The superdevilishness of his plan shocked everyone."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares a similar CVC structure in the final syllable and suffixation.

devilishlydev-il-ish-ly

Shares the root 'devil' and similar suffixation patterns.

supernaturalsu-per-nat-ur-al

Shares the prefix 'super' and a similar syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC)

Syllables are often divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant.

Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC)

Syllables are often formed around a CVC structure.

Stress Placement

Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect division.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

Multiple suffixation can sometimes create ambiguity, but established phonological rules resolve it here.

Regional variations in vowel quality may occur, but syllable division remains consistent.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'superdevilishness' is divided into six syllables: su-per-dev-il-ish-ness. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('il'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'super-', root 'devil', and suffixes '-ish' and '-ness'. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and stress placement.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "superdevilishness" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "superdevilishness" is a complex word formed through multiple affixations. Pronunciation in GB English will generally follow standard Received Pronunciation (RP) or a similar accent. The 'r' is typically non-rhotic, meaning it's not pronounced after vowels unless followed by another vowel.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over," or "excessively") - Function: Intensifier.
  • Root: devil (Old French diable, from Latin diabolus, meaning "demon") - Function: Core meaning relating to evil or wickedness.
  • Suffix: -ish (English, adjectival suffix) - Function: Forms an adjective indicating a quality or characteristic.
  • Suffix: -ness (English, nominalizing suffix) - Function: Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: su-per-dev-il-ish-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsuːpəˈdevɪlɪʃnəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

  • su-: /suː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. Exception: The 'u' is a long vowel sound.
  • per-: /pə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.
  • dev-: /dev/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) structure.
  • il-: /ˈɪl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by 'l' which acts as a consonant in this context. Stress falls here due to the root word.
  • ish-: /ɪʃ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster ('sh').
  • ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) structure.

7. Edge Case Review:

The combination of multiple suffixes can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllable division. However, the established rules of English phonology and morphology clearly delineate the boundaries in this case.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Superdevilishness" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of potential (though rare) adjectival use.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Extreme or excessive wickedness or evil.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: extreme malevolence, utter depravity, profound wickedness
  • Antonyms: goodness, virtue, benevolence
  • Examples: "The superdevilishness of his plan shocked everyone."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Minor variations in vowel quality might occur depending on regional accents. However, the core syllable division remains consistent. Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar CVC structure in the final syllable. Stress pattern differs.
  • devilishly: dev-il-ish-ly - Shares the root "devil" and similar suffixation. Syllable division is consistent.
  • supernatural: su-per-nat-ur-al - Similar prefix "super" and syllable structure. Stress pattern differs.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.