Hyphenate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈhaɪf(ə)ˌneɪt/

Definitions

1. To link several elements of a word together using a hyphen for clarity or to form a compound expression
2. To combine word segments with a hyphen to enhance understanding or create new terminology
3. To connect parts of a word with a hyphen, producing a compound or clarified form ; to acquire the legal right to hold citizenship in two countries at the same time

Etymology: "Hyphen" comes from Greek "hyphen," literally "under one" or "into one," built from "hypo" (under) and "hen" (one). The Greek word was used for joining things together as a unit, and it passed into Late Latin as "hyphen" and then into English, where it came to name the short dash that links words or word parts. "Hyphenate" is simply "hyphen" with the verb-forming suffix "-ate," which comes from Latin "-atus" and turns a noun into a verb meaning to treat something in a particular way. So to hyphenate is to join words with a hyphen, the same way the Greek original meant bringing things together into one.

Synonyms: connect, join, link, combine, attach

Antonyms: separate, divide, disconnect, detach, part