Hyphenation ofnimble-feathered
Syllable Division:
nim-ble-feath-ered
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˈnɪmbəl ˈfɛðərd/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
10 10
Primary stress falls on the first syllable of each component word ('nim' and 'feath').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.
Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant cluster.
Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.
Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: nim
Old English *nimian* - to take, seize; intensifier meaning 'quick' or 'agile'.
Root: ble
Old English *blēo* - to bloom, flourish; part of the root indicating agility.
Suffix: feathered
Old English *feðer* - feather + *-ed* - past participle/adjectival suffix.
Having a light and agile quality, like that of a bird's feathers; quick and graceful in movement.
Examples:
"The nimble-feathered hummingbird darted among the flowers."
"A nimble-feathered dancer moved across the stage."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel followed by a consonant
Syllables are divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant (e.g., nim, feath).
Vowel followed by a consonant cluster
Syllables are divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant cluster (e.g., ble, ered).
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The hyphenated nature of the word requires independent syllabification of each component.
Regional variations in the pronunciation of 'th' do not affect syllable division.
Summary:
The word 'nimble-feathered' is divided into four syllables: nim-ble-feath-ered. It consists of an Old English prefix 'nim-', a root 'ble', and a suffix 'feathered'. Stress falls on the first syllable of each component. Syllabification follows standard English rules of vowel-consonant division.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "nimble-feathered"
1. Pronunciation:
The word "nimble-feathered" is pronounced as /ˈnɪmbəl ˈfɛðərd/ in General American English.
2. Syllable Division:
The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: nim-ble-feath-ered
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: nim- (Old English nimian - to take, seize; functions as an intensifier, meaning 'quick' or 'agile').
- Root: ble (Old English blēo - to bloom, flourish, but here functioning as part of the root indicating agility).
- Suffix: -feathered (Old English feðer - feather + -ed - past participle/adjectival suffix. Indicates possessing feathers or resembling feathers, and by extension, lightness and agility).
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the first syllable of each component word: /ˈnɪm.bəl ˈfɛθ.ərd/.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˈnɪmbəl ˈfɛðərd/
6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:
- nim: /ˈnɪm/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. No exceptions.
- ble: /ˈbəl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster. No exceptions.
- feath: /ˈfɛθ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. No exceptions.
- ered: /ˈərd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. No exceptions.
7. Edge Case Review:
The hyphenated nature of the word presents a slight edge case. Each component ("nimble" and "feathered") is syllabified independently before being combined. The hyphen doesn't affect the internal syllabification of each word.
8. Grammatical Role:
"Nimble-feathered" functions primarily as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.
9. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Having a light and agile quality, like that of a bird's feathers; quick and graceful in movement.
- Grammatical Category: Adjective
- Synonyms: lithe, agile, quick, graceful, fleet-footed
- Antonyms: clumsy, awkward, heavy, sluggish
- Examples: "The nimble-feathered hummingbird darted among the flowers." "A nimble-feathered dancer moved across the stage."
10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
Some regional variations might pronounce the 'th' in 'feathered' as /ð/ (voiced) or /θ/ (unvoiced). This doesn't affect the syllable division.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- table: ta-ble - Similar structure (CVC-CVC). Stress on the first syllable.
- purple: pur-ple - Similar structure (CVC-CVC). Stress on the first syllable.
- simple: sim-ple - Similar structure (CVC-CVC). Stress on the first syllable.
The consistent CVC-CVC structure and initial stress in these words demonstrate the regular syllabification patterns in English. "Nimble-feathered" follows this pattern for each component word.
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What is hyphenation
Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.
Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.