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

univariate

univerbation

universal

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Univerbation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/univerbation. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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