Morpheme
/ˈmɔːr.fiːm/noun
The smallest meaningful unit in a language.
Did you know?Morpheme was coined in modern linguistics from Greek *morphē* “form,” because a morpheme is a unit of language defined by its form and meaning, not by any ancient magical or occult tradition.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μορφή (morphḗ)
“form, shape”
Late 19th Century
French/German scholarly usage
morphème
“a linguistic unit of form and meaning”
Late 19th Century
English
morpheme
“a minimum unit of language carrying meaning”
Modern English
English
morpheme
“the smallest meaningful unit in a language”
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