Definition of "enclitic" [en•clit•ic]

• A clitic that is attached to the end of another word. In Give 'em the works, the pronoun 'em is an enclitic. (noun)
• A clitic. (noun)
• Of or relating to an enclitic or enclisis; forming an accentual unit with the preceding word. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The "enclitic" neatly encapsulates Mosse’s thesis about the relations between originary languages and vernaculars, between primary languages and stranger idioms, between literary languages and invading languages, with "mixed jargons" and a changed "mother idiom" as a result."
• "No. 51; accent from "enclitic," § 3. 55. vii, 20. 56."
• "However, an enclitic accusative demonstrative may still precede or follow an unmarked object and this is probably the most direct indication that accusative nouns are simply unmarked in that case."