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Hyphenation ofsuperdevilishness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

su-per-dev-il-ish-ness

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

/ˌsuːpərˈdɛvɪlɪʃnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ish'). The first, second, fifth and sixth syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

su/suː/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

per/pər/

Open syllable, unstressed.

dev/dɛv/

Open syllable, leading to the stressed syllable.

il/ɪl/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ish/ɪʃ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, final syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

super-(prefix)
+
devil(root)
+
-ish(suffix)

Prefix: super-

Latin origin, intensifier.

Root: devil

Old French/Latin origin, core meaning of evil.

Suffix: -ish

Old English origin, forms an adjective.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being extremely wicked or evil.

Examples:

"The superdevilishness of his plan shocked everyone."

"Her superdevilishness was legendary."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the suffix '-ness' and similar syllable structure.

devilrydev-il-ry

Shares the root 'devil' and similar syllable structure.

supernaturalsu-per-nat-ur-al

Shares the prefix 'super-' and similar syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are split when necessary, but affixes are kept intact.

Morphological Rule

Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries.

Special Considerations

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

The pronunciation of 'per' in 'super' could be a weak syllable, but it's pronounced distinctly here.

Regional variations in vowel sounds may exist, but the syllabification remains consistent.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'superdevilishness' is divided into six syllables: su-per-dev-il-ish-ness. It consists of the prefix 'super-', the root 'devil', and the suffixes '-ish' and '-ness'. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ish'). The syllabification follows standard English vowel and consonant cluster rules, aligning with morpheme boundaries.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "superdevilishness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "superdevilishness" is pronounced with a relatively complex structure, involving multiple morphemes and potential vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. The pronunciation will be based on General American English.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

su-per-dev-il-ish-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over," or "excessively") - intensifier.
  • Root: devil (Old French diable, from Latin diabolus, meaning "demon") - core meaning relating to evil or wickedness.
  • Suffix: -ish (Old English -isc, meaning "having the quality of") - forms an adjective.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, from Proto-Germanic -nass) - forms a noun from an adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: de-vil-ish-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsuːpərˈdɛvɪlɪʃnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "dev" followed by a vowel can sometimes lead to ambiguity, but the established pronunciation and morphological structure clearly indicate the division as "dev-il".

7. Grammatical Role:

"Superdevilishness" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if the word were to hypothetically function as another part of speech, as it is a derived noun.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being extremely wicked or evil.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: wickedness, evilness, depravity, malevolence
  • Antonyms: goodness, virtue, benevolence
  • Examples: "The superdevilishness of his plan shocked everyone." "Her superdevilishness was legendary."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar suffix -ness. Stress on the second syllable.
  • devilry: dev-il-ry - Shares the root devil. Stress on the second syllable.
  • supernatural: su-per-nat-ur-al - Shares the prefix super-. Stress on the third syllable.

The syllable structure of "superdevilishness" is more complex due to the longer root and the addition of the -ish suffix. The stress pattern differs due to the length and morphological structure of the word.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.
  • Morphological Rule: Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries.

11. Special Considerations:

The "per" in "super" can sometimes be a weak syllable, but in this case, it's pronounced distinctly enough to warrant its own syllable.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might slightly alter the vowel sounds (e.g., /ɛ/ vs. /ɪ/ in "devilish"), but the core syllabification remains consistent.

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

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.