monosyllabically
1
9.1
- adverb
- /ˌmɒnəˈsɪləbɪkli/
- Whenever he was upset, he would speak monosyllabically, only using single-syllable words.
Examples
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Geraldine explained that whenever anyone would ask a question, the instructor would respond monosyllabically: "It was so 'yes, no.' ...
Academic text (2009) -
But I can't express myself monosyllabically enough for you to understand them all.
-
Latin words are intoned monosyllabically.
Fiction book (1996) -
Beth answered monosyllabically.
Fiction book (1995) -
Hi, such a simple opening word, so pure and forthright and monosyllabically beauteous, like Yes and No and Me and Love, as she tries to utter this word to me, a thick thread of saliva trickles out the corner of her mouth.
Fiction book (2000) -
The teacher asked questions, and the students responded monosyllabically, giving short answers like 'yes' or 'no.'
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During the debate, she communicated monosyllabically, ensuring her points were clear and straightforward.
How Briefly
Surface Forms
Morphology
monosyllabically = monosyllabic (transparent) = mono + syllable + ic + ly
The adverb is a standard form built transparently from the adjective 'monosyllabic' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'.
Etymology
Monosyllabically comes from mono- meaning 'one' and syllable meaning 'a unit of sound' in a word, so a monosyllable is a 'one-syllable' word; that's why to speak monosyllabically is to give very short answers or use single-syllable words like 'yes' or 'no'.