meningocephalitis
Syllables
men-in-go-ceph-a-li-tis
Pronunciation
/ˌmɛnɪŋgoʊsɛfəˈlaɪtɪs/
Stress
0000101
Morphemes
meningo- + cephal- + -itis
Meningocephalitis is a noun denoting inflammation of the brain and meninges. It is syllabified as men-in-go-ceph-a-li-tis, with primary stress on the penultimate syllable. The word is composed of Greek-derived morphemes: 'meningo-' (membrane), 'cephal-' (head), and '-itis' (inflammation). Syllable division follows standard US English rules, prioritizing onset maximization.
Definitions
- 1
Inflammation of both the meninges and the brain.
“The patient was diagnosed with meningocephalitis after a lumbar puncture.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('lai' in 'laɪtɪs').
Syllables
men — Open syllable, initial syllable.. in — Closed syllable.. go — Open syllable, contains a diphthong.. ceph — Closed syllable.. a — Open syllable, schwa vowel.. li — Open syllable, contains a diphthong.. tis — Closed syllable, final syllable.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Onset-Rime
Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-containing rime.
Consonant-Vowel
When a vowel follows a consonant, the syllable break typically occurs after the consonant.
Vowel-Consonant
When a consonant follows a vowel, the syllable break typically occurs after the vowel.
Maximize Onsets
Preference for placing consonants in the onset of a syllable.
- The word's length and multiple schwas make it a complex case.
- The rule of maximizing onsets is crucial for correct syllable division.
Nearby Words
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