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Hyphenation ofworld-contemning

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

world-con-temn-ing

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

/wɜːrld kənˈtɛmnɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('temn'). The first and last syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

world/wɜːrld/

Closed syllable, potentially rhotic vowel.

con/kən/

Open syllable, unstressed.

temn/ˈtɛmn/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

ing/ɪŋ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

con-(prefix)
+
temn-(root)
+
-ing(suffix)

Prefix: con-

Latin origin, intensifier/shared action

Root: temn-

Latin origin (tenere - to hold), related to restraint

Suffix: -ing

English, gerund/present participle marker

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Despising or looking down upon the world; cynical or misanthropic.

Examples:

"The world-contemning poet wrote verses filled with bitterness."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

understandingun-der-stand-ing

Shares the '-ing' suffix, similar morphological structure.

beginningbe-gin-ning

Shares the '-ing' suffix, simpler syllable structure.

concerningcon-cern-ing

Shares the 'con-' prefix and '-ing' suffix, demonstrating consistent prefix/suffix syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC)

Syllables typically end in vowels; consonants following vowels form a syllable.

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are split to maintain onsets and codas where possible.

Stress Placement

Stress influences syllable prominence and vowel reduction.

Special Considerations

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

Compound word structure (world + contemning).

Regional variations in rhoticity affecting the pronunciation of 'world'.

Relatively uncommon word, limited established syllabification precedent.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'world-contemning' is divided into four syllables: world-con-temn-ing, with primary stress on 'temn'. It's morphologically complex, comprising the noun 'world', the prefix 'con-', the root 'temn-', and the suffix '-ing'. Syllabification follows standard English rules of vowel-consonant division and consonant cluster splitting.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "world-contemning"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "world-contemning" is pronounced as /wɜːrld kənˈtɛmnɪŋ/ in US English. It's a complex word formed by compounding and suffixation.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as: world-con-temn-ing.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: con- (Latin, meaning "with" or "together," functioning as an intensifier or indicating shared action)
  • Root: temn- (Latin tenere "to hold," related to the idea of restraining or holding back)
  • Suffix: -ing (English, gerund/present participle marker, indicating ongoing action)
  • First Morpheme: world (Old English woruld, meaning "human existence, the earth and its inhabitants") - functions as a noun adjunct modifying "contemning".

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: con-temn-ing.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/wɜːrld kənˈtɛmnɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word (world + contemning) presents a slight edge case. However, the stress pattern and vowel reduction rules apply consistently. The 'r' in 'world' is often rhotic in US English, influencing the syllable weight.

7. Grammatical Role:

"World-contemning" functions primarily as an adjective (participial adjective). As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent. If hypothetically used as a gerund (though rare), the stress would likely remain on "temn".

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Despising or looking down upon the world; cynical or misanthropic.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective (participial adjective)
  • Synonyms: world-weary, cynical, misanthropic, disdainful
  • Antonyms: optimistic, appreciative, benevolent
  • Examples: "The world-contemning poet wrote verses filled with bitterness."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Understanding: un-der-stand-ing (4 syllables, stress on 'stand') - Similar suffix '-ing', but different vowel qualities and initial consonant clusters.
  • Beginning: be-gin-ning (3 syllables, stress on 'gin') - Shares the '-ing' suffix, but simpler syllable structure.
  • Concerning: con-cern-ing (3 syllables, stress on 'cern') - Shares the 'con-' prefix and '-ing' suffix, demonstrating consistent prefix/suffix syllabification.

Syllable Breakdown Details:

  • world: /wɜːrld/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Potential exception: The 'r' can be considered part of the vowel nucleus in rhotic accents.
  • con: /kən/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
  • temn: /ˈtɛmn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Primary stress.
  • ing: /ɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by nasal consonant cluster.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables typically end in vowels.
  • Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally split to maintain onsets and codas.
  • Stress Placement: Stress influences syllable prominence and vowel reduction.

Special Considerations:

  • The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of the boundaries between "world" and "contemning".
  • Regional variations in rhoticity can affect the pronunciation of the 'r' in "world".
  • The word is relatively uncommon, so there's less established precedent for syllabification.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Non-rhotic accents might pronounce "world" as /wɜːld/, potentially affecting the syllable weight and vowel quality.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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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.