huggermuggeries
The word 'hugger-muggeries' is a plural noun formed from the reduplicated compound 'hugger-mugger' and the plural suffix '-ies'. It is divided into five syllables: hug-ger-mug-ger-ies, with primary stress on the second syllable of 'hugger-mugger'. The syllabification follows standard English rules despite the word's unusual morphology.
Definitions
- 1
Secret work or activity; clandestine behavior; trickery.
“The negotiations were conducted in complete hugger-muggeries.”
“He disliked the hugger-muggeries of political maneuvering.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress on the second syllable of 'hugger-mugger' (ˈmʌɡər), secondary stress on the first syllable of 'hugger' (ˌhʌɡər), and no stress on 'ies'.
Syllables
hug — Closed syllable, stressed.. ger — Open syllable, unstressed.. mug — Closed syllable, stressed.. ger — Open syllable, unstressed.. ies — Open syllable, unstressed, plural suffix.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Onset-Rime Division
Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and rime (vowel and any following consonants).
Vowel-Consonant Division
When a vowel is followed by a consonant, the syllable is typically divided after the vowel.
Plural Suffix Rule
The plural suffix '-ies' forms a separate syllable.
- The word's unusual morphology and historical origins make it an edge case. The reduplicated structure is not common in modern English.
Nearby Words
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