Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
hypotactic

hypotactic

9.9
Using sentences where one part depends on another
  • adjective
  • /ˌhaɪpəˈtæktɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hipotáctico
  • The author's use of hypotactic sentences added depth to the narrative by clearly establishing relationships between ideas.

Examples

  • From a purely syntactic point of view, it presents a hypotactic construction like the narratives of the complex mode.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Rather than the more or less consciously ulterior meanings of metaphoric, hypotactic writing, these words have power that is perceived in their shapes.

    Academic text (1991)

  • In her essay, she favored hypotactic structures, which allowed for complex, nuanced arguments to unfold.

  • Many literary works employ hypotactic writing to enhance their themes through detailed subordinate clauses.

Antonyms

paratactic
  • Specialized
9.9

Short sentences or ideas appear next to each other without connecting words

How Hypotactic

hypotactic
  • Specialized
9.9
paratactic
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

hypotactic positive

Morphology

hypotactic = tactic (opaque) = hypo + tactic

Although the word can be segmented as hypo- + tactic, the meaning 'involving subordinate clauses' is specialized and not directly recoverable from 'tactic' for most learners.

Etymology

Hypotactic comes from Greek parts hypo- meaning 'under' and taxis meaning 'order', the same idea behind the word tactic. So hypotactic describes sentences that put some clauses 'under' others, using clauses that depend on a main clause.