foresyllable

English

Alternative forms

• fore-syllable

Etymology

From fore- +‎ syllable; Compare Dutch voorsyllabe, German Vorsilbe.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɹsɪləbəl/
• (Received Pronunciation, UK) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔːsɪləbəl/

Noun

foresyllable (plural foresyllables)

1. (rare) A syllable (or syllables) at the beginning of a word.
   • 1902, Notes and Queries, John C. Francis, page 232:

     We had several things beginning with the same foresyllable.

   • 1914, Keith Clark, The Spell of Spain, The Page Company, page 132:

     The " kar " is the same foresyllable that runs in Carthage and means a high place.

   • 2005, Vivian Cook, Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary: Or Why Can't Anybody Spell, Touchstone, page 57:

     C is strong like to "k." before "a," "o," "u," either simple vowels, or combined in diphthongs, as cankard, cautele, concord, coward, cunning, or when it ends a foresyllable before any other consonant as "c" "q" "k" "t" as in succede, acquaint, acknowledge, expecting.

Synonyms

• prefix

Antonyms

• suffix

See also

• endsyllable, end-syllable