heteroclite

1 of 2

noun

het·​ero·​clite ˈhe-tə-rə-ˌklīt 

plural heteroclites

1

linguistics

a

: a word that is irregular in inflection

b

in Indo-European languages : a noun possessing heteroclitic inflection

2

: one that deviates from common forms or rules

heteroclite

2 of 2

adjective

: deviating from common rules or forms

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Late Latin heterocliton, noun derivative from neuter of heteroclitos "irregularly inflected" — more at heteroclite entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French ethroclite, etroclite, hetheroclite "strange, unusual, irregularly declined," borrowed from Late Latin heteroclitos "irregularly inflected," borrowed from Greek heteróklitos, from hetero- hetero- + -klitos, verbal adjective of klī́nein "to cause to lean, put at a slant, inflect (parts of speech)" — more at lean entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined above