nondefensiveness
Syllables
non-de-fen-sive-ness
Pronunciation
/ˌnɑn.dəˈfen.sɪv.nəs/
Stress
00100
Morphemes
non- + defend + -ive/-ness
The word 'nondefensiveness' is divided into five syllables: non-de-fen-sive-ness. It consists of the prefix 'non-', the root 'defend', and the suffixes '-ive' and '-ness'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('fen'). Syllabification follows standard English rules of vowel-consonant division and prefix/suffix separation.
Definitions
- 1
The state or quality of not being defensive.
“Her nondefensiveness was refreshing in a typically confrontational environment.”
“He approached the negotiation with a remarkable degree of nondefensiveness.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('fen'). This is typical for words with multiple suffixes, where stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable of the root, or the syllable before the final suffix.
Syllables
non — Open syllable, prefix.. de — Open syllable.. fen — Closed syllable, primary stress.. sive — Closed syllable.. ness — Closed syllable, suffix.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel-Consonant (VC) Rule
Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant(s).
Consonant Cluster Rule
When consonant clusters occur, syllables are divided to avoid leaving a single consonant at the beginning or end of a syllable.
Prefix/Suffix Rule
Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.
- The initial 'non-' prefix is a common exception, remaining a distinct syllable.
- The 'sive' ending is treated as a syllable due to the vowel sound.
Nearby Words
17 wordsTrending in English (US)
Terms getting hyphenated by users right now.