metaphoricalness
Syllables
met-a-phor-i-cal-ness
Pronunciation
/ˌmɛtəˈfɔrɪkəlnəs/
Stress
000100
Morphemes
meta- + phor- + -ical
The word 'metaphoricalness' is a five-syllable noun derived from Greek and Latin roots with English suffixes. Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable. Syllabification follows standard English vowel and affix rules, though the schwa in 'meta-' can be reduced in casual speech.
Definitions
- 1
The quality or state of being metaphorical; the degree to which something is symbolic rather than literal.
“The metaphoricalness of the poem added to its depth.”
“He appreciated the metaphoricalness of her speech.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('i' in 'i-cal'). The stress pattern is typical for words with multiple suffixes.
Syllables
met — Open syllable, unstressed.. a — Open syllable, unstressed, schwa vowel.. phor — Open syllable, unstressed.. i — Open syllable, stressed.. cal — Closed syllable, unstressed.. ness — Closed syllable, unstressed.
Word Parts
Vowel Rule
Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Consonant clusters are often split based on sonority.
Affix Rule
Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.
- The schwa sound in 'meta-' can sometimes be omitted in rapid speech.
- Potential ambiguity in syllable boundaries due to the length of the word and multiple suffixes.
Nearby Words
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