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semanteme

noun
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se·​man·​teme | \ sə̇ˈmanˌtēm \
plural -s

Definition of semanteme

: a word (as the noun dog, the verb run, the adjective new, the concrete adverb fast) or a base (as Latin can- in canis “dog”, curr- in currere “to run”, nov- in novus “new”) that expresses a definite image or idea —distinguished from morpheme

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First Known Use of semanteme

1922, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for semanteme

French sémantème, from sémant- (from sémantique semantic, semantics) + -ème -eme

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The first known use of semanteme was in 1922

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Cite this Entry

“Semanteme.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semanteme. Accessed 10 December 2019.

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