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In its strictest sense, tmesis (/ˈtmiːsɪs, təˈmiː-/; plural tmeses /ˈtmiːsiːs, təˈmiː-/; Ancient Greek: τμῆσις tmēsis – "a cutting" < τέμνω temnō, "I cut") is a word compound that is divided into two parts, with another word infixed between the parts, thus constituting a separate word compound. Example: "un-freaking-believable" (an emphatic way to say "unbelievable"). In a broader sense, tmesis is a recognizable phrase (such as a phrasal verb) or word that is divided into two parts, with one or more words interpolated between the parts, thus creating a separate phrase.[1][2][3]
- ^ "tmesis". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2014 – via oxforddictionaries.com.
- ^ The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford University Press. 1992. p. 1044. ISBN 0-19-214183-X.
- ^ "tmesis". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 19 August 2014.