exocentric

adjective

exo·​centric

¦eksō+

: not having the same grammatical function as a nonmodifying immediate constituent

—used of a compound (such as barefoot, which is unlike foot in function) or construction (such as in the yard in the sentence "they played in the yard," which is unlike in or yard in function) compare endocentric

Word History

Etymology

exo- + -centric

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