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Hyphenation ofsemirebelliousness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

se-mi-re-bel-li-ous-ness

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˌsɛmi.rɪˈbɛli.əs.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000100

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('li') in 'bellious'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

se/sɛ/

Open syllable, vowel sound.

mi/mi/

Open syllable, vowel sound.

re/rɪ/

Open syllable, vowel sound.

bel/bɛl/

Closed syllable, consonant ending.

li/li/

Open syllable, vowel sound.

ous/əs/

Closed syllable, consonant ending.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, consonant ending.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

semi-(prefix)
+
rebel(root)
+
ious-ness(suffix)

Prefix: semi-

Latin origin, meaning 'half' or 'partly', degree modifier.

Root: rebel

Latin origin (*rebellare*), meaning 'to wage war again', core meaning of opposition.

Suffix: ious-ness

Latin and Old English origins, forming adjectives and nouns indicating quality or state.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being partially rebellious; a moderate degree of defiance or resistance.

Examples:

"His semirebelliousness was evident in his passive-aggressive behavior."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

rebelliousre-bel-li-ous

Shares the root 'rebel' and the suffix '-ious', similar syllable structure.

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the suffix '-ness', demonstrating consistent suffix syllabification.

curiousnesscu-ri-os-i-ty

Shares the suffix '-ious', demonstrating consistent suffix syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-CVC Rule

Syllables are typically formed around vowel sounds. Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are often maintained within a syllable, unless they are easily separable by a vowel sound.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The word's length and complex morphology require careful attention to vowel sounds and consonant clusters.

The 'semi-' prefix is a common prefix and doesn't present any unique challenges.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'semirebelliousness' is syllabified as se-mi-re-bel-li-ous-ness, with primary stress on the fifth syllable ('li'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'semi-', the root 'rebel', and the suffixes '-ious' and '-ness'. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "semirebelliousness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "semirebelliousness" is a complex noun formed through multiple affixations. Its pronunciation in US English involves a blend of vowel sounds and consonant clusters, requiring careful syllabification.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): se-mi-re-bel-li-ous-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: semi- (Latin, meaning "half" or "partly"). Morphological function: degree modifier.
  • Root: rebel- (Latin rebellare, meaning "to wage war again"). Morphological function: core meaning of opposition.
  • Suffix: -ious (Latin, forming adjectives indicating quality or state). Morphological function: adjective formation.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English, forming nouns denoting state or quality). Morphological function: noun formation.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: se-mi-re-bel-li-ous-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsɛmi.rɪˈbɛli.əs.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of multiple suffixes and the root's inherent complexity presents a challenge. The 'ous' suffix can sometimes be a point of ambiguity, but in this case, it clearly attaches to 'belli' forming 'bellious'.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Semirebelliousness" functions solely as a noun. Shifting grammatical roles are not applicable.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being partially rebellious; a moderate degree of defiance or resistance.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: partial defiance, moderate insubordination, lukewarm rebellion
  • Antonyms: complete obedience, full submission, total compliance
  • Example Usage: "His semirebelliousness was evident in his passive-aggressive behavior."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • rebellious: re-bel-li-ous. Similar structure, stress on the third syllable. The addition of 'semi-' and '-ness' extends the word and shifts the stress slightly.
  • happiness: hap-pi-ness. Simpler structure, but shares the '-ness' suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
  • curiousness: cu-ri-os-i-ty. Shares the '-ious' suffix. Stress on the third syllable. The syllable division rules are consistent across these words, prioritizing vowel sounds and consonant clusters.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
se /sɛ/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel-CVC rule None
mi /mi/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel-CVC rule None
re /rɪ/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel-CVC rule None
bel /bɛl/ Closed syllable, consonant ending Consonant cluster rule None
li /li/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel-CVC rule None
ous /əs/ Closed syllable, consonant ending Vowel-CVC rule None
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable, consonant ending Consonant cluster rule None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-CVC Rule: Syllables are typically formed around vowel sounds. Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
  2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often maintained within a syllable, unless they are easily separable by a vowel sound.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful attention to vowel sounds and consonant clusters to ensure accurate syllabification. The 'semi-' prefix is a common prefix and doesn't present any unique challenges.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Minor variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɛ/ vs. /e/) might occur depending on regional dialects, but these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.