teetertottering
Teeter-tottering is a five-syllable word with primary stress on 'tee'. It's formed from a reduplicated root and the '-ing' suffix, following standard US English syllabification rules. It functions as a gerund/present participle or adjective, describing unstable movement.
Definitions
- 1
The act of moving unsteadily back and forth.
“The old man was teeter-tottering on the edge of the cliff.”
- 1
Being in an unstable or precarious state.
“Her confidence was teeter-tottering after the criticism.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress on the first syllable ('tee'), secondary stress on the third syllable ('tot').
Syllables
tee — Open syllable, stressed. ter — Closed syllable, unstressed. tot — Closed syllable, secondary stress. ter — Closed syllable, unstressed. ing — Closed syllable, unstressed
Word Parts
Onset-Rime Division
Dividing syllables based on the onset and rime.
Vowel-Consonant Division
Syllable break after the vowel when followed by a consonant.
Consonant-Vowel Division
Syllable break before the vowel when preceded by a consonant.
Consonant-Vowel-Consonant Division
Syllables are divided around the vowel when surrounded by consonants.
- Reduplication of the root requires careful syllabification. The -ing suffix interacts with the preceding syllable.
Nearby Words
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