(linguistic morphology) A morph with a surface phonetic realization but no meaning, as contrasted with a zero morph, which has a meaning but no phonetic realization.

plural of empty morph

(linguistic morphology) The smallest linguistic unit within a word that can carry a meaning.

(linguistic morphology) A bound morpheme within a complex word that is a fossil and whose meaning is opaque to the present speakers of the language.

(linguistic morphology) A morpheme that can only occur when bound to a root morpheme. For example: cran- (as in cranberry), -ed, -ing, -ly.

plural of bound morpheme

A blemish or mark on the skin, especially a blister caused by scurvy.

plural of morpheme

(Greek mythology) The god and personification of dreams; according to the Roman poet Ovid, one of the sons of Somnus, the god of sleep.

(linguistics) The study of morphemes, or of the morphemic structure of a language.