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Hyphen

//ˈhaɪ.fən// conj, noun, verb

Definitions

Conjunction
  1. 1
    Used to emphasize the coordinating function usually indicated by the punctuation "-".

    "You are sitting at the wrong table, if I may be so bold, among the misguided who believe in the mass murder of mentalities, otherwise known as the liberal arts hyphen vocational training hyphen education."

Noun
  1. 1
    The symbol "‐", typically used to join two or more words to form a compound term, or to indicate that a word has been split at the end of a line.

    "As the proud owner of my very own hyphen in a lovingly crafted surname, I have an especial soft spot for this most confusing of punctuation marks."

  2. 2
    a punctuation mark (‘-’) used between parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a word when the word is divided at the end of a line of text wordnet
  3. 3
    Something which links two things of greater significance than itself. figuratively

    "Cunliffe and Karunanayake (2013) developed Fine's notion to introduce potential hyphen spaces that are deeply implicated and reciprocally influential in relationships between researchers and the researched."

  4. 4
    Something which links two things of greater significance than itself.; An enclosed walkway or passage that connects two buildings. figuratively

    "The hyphens were added, joining the structures into one building, which now measures just over two hundred feet long."

  5. 5
    Someone who belongs to a marginalized subgroup, and can therefore described by a hyphenated term, such as "German-American", "female-academic", etc.

    "Tab has been kept on quite a number of members who rapturously applauded when that part of the message in which the hyphens were attacked was read by the President."

Verb
  1. 1
    To separate or punctuate with a hyphen; to hyphenate. dated, transitive
  2. 2
    divide or connect with a hyphen wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Late Latin, from Ancient Greek ὑφέν (huphén, “together”), contracted from ὑφ’ ἕν (huph’ hén, “under one”), from ὑπό (hupó, “under”) + ἕν (hén, “one”), neuter of εἷς (heîs, “one”).

Etymology 2

From Late Latin, from Ancient Greek ὑφέν (huphén, “together”), contracted from ὑφ’ ἕν (huph’ hén, “under one”), from ὑπό (hupó, “under”) + ἕν (hén, “one”), neuter of εἷς (heîs, “one”).

Etymology 3

From Late Latin, from Ancient Greek ὑφέν (huphén, “together”), contracted from ὑφ’ ἕν (huph’ hén, “under one”), from ὑπό (hupó, “under”) + ἕν (hén, “one”), neuter of εἷς (heîs, “one”).

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