univerbation

noun

uni·​ver·​ba·​tion ˌyü-ni-vər-ˈbā-shən How to pronounce univerbation (audio)
: the process by which a fixed collocation of words becomes a single word (such as the verb atone from the phrase at one, or the adjective dyed-in-the-wool from the phrase dyed in the wool)

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French, from uni- uni- + Latin verbum "word" + French -ation -ation — more at word entry 1

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of univerbation was in 1965

Dictionary Entries Near univerbation

Cite this Entry

“Univerbation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/univerbation. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

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