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hyphen

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hy⋅phen

[hahy-fuhn]
–noun
1. a short line (-) used to connect the parts of a compound word or the parts of a word divided for any purpose.
–verb (used with object)
2. hyphenate.

Origin:
1595–1605; < LL < Gk hyphén (adv.) together, deriv. of hyph' hén (prep. phrase), equiv. to hyp(ó) under (see hypo- ) + hén, neut. of heîs one


hy⋅phen⋅ic [hahy-fen-ik] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hyphen
hy·phen   (hī'fən)   
n.  A punctuation mark ( - ) used between the parts of a compound word or name or between the syllables of a word, especially when divided at the end of a line of text.
tr.v.   hy·phened, hy·phen·ing, hy·phens
To hyphenate.

[Late Latin, from Greek huphen, a sign indicating a compound or two words which are to be read as one, from huph' hen, in one : hupo, under; see hypo- + hen, neuter of heis, one; see sem-1 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

hyphen

A punctuation mark (-) used in some compound words, such as self-motivation, seventy-five, and mother-in-law. A hyphen is also used to divide a word at the end of a line of type. Hyphens may appear only between syllables. Thus com-pound is properly hyphenated, but compo-und is not.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hyphen 
c.1620, from L.L. hyphen, from Gk. hyphen "mark joining two syllables or words," probably indicating how they were to be sung, "together, in one," lit. "under one," from hypo "under" + hen, neut. of heis "one."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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