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Glite Dictionary
exocentric compound

exocentric compound

9.8
A word made from two words that names something different from its parts
  • noun
  • /ˌɛksoʊˈsɛntrɪk ˈkɒmpaʊnd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : compuesto exocéntrico
  • The term exocentric compound refers to words like 'pickpocket,' where the meaning is not evident from its parts.

Examples

  • An exocentric compound can be confusing for learners.

  • The word exocentric compound is discussed in advanced grammar classes.

  • Linguists often analyze whether a compound is endocentric or exocentric compound.

  • ‘Bittersweet’ is an example of an exocentric compound because the whole acts as a noun, while its parts are adjectives.

  • Many linguists study exocentric compounds in depth.

  • In linguistics, an example of an exocentric compound is 'greenhouse,' which functions differently than its components.

  • Understanding exocentric compound words helps students grasp complex language structures in compound formation.

Surface Forms

exocentric compound singular
exocentric compounds plural

Morphology

exocentric + compound

The noun phrase is compositionally predictable: adjective 'exocentric' (having an external/unique grammatical role) modifies 'compound' (a word formed from parts), so the combined meaning—a compound that is exocentric—is directly derivable from the constituents. Because the relation follows standard adjective+noun composition, a learner who already knows both word meanings can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Exocentric compound describes a compound where the whole word points 'outside' its parts. For example, pickpocket means a person who steals, even though neither pick nor pocket is a person, so the whole word refers to something different from its parts.