black-haired
UK[ˌblæk ˈheəd]US[ˌblæk ˈherd]
adj
having hair that is black in color.
Morpheme Breakdown
black
hair
ed
black
dark color
hair
body filament
ed
having the quality of
Etymology
the compound adjective "black-haired" is a modern english formation built from native germanic elements. its first component, "black," descends from the proto-germanic blakaz, meaning "burned," which itself may derive from the pie root bhleg-, "to burn, shine." this root connects the concept of darkness to that of burning or charring. the second element, "hair," traces back to pie ker(s)-, "to bristle," via proto-germanic khæran. the suffix "-ed," used to form participial adjectives, originates from the old english past participle ending. the logical construction is transparent: possessing (ed) hair of a black color, a descriptive pattern common in english for physical traits.
Analysis
Structure: black (dark color) + hair (body filament) + ed (having the quality of)
- black: from old english blæc, meaning "dark, ink." functions as an adjective describing color.
- hair: from old english hær, meaning "hair, a single filament." functions as a noun, the object being described.
- ed: from old english -ede, a suffix forming adjectives from nouns, meaning "having, provided with." functions as an adjectival suffix.
Examples
the main character in the story is a tall, black-haired man.
she is one of the few black-haired members in her fair-haired family.
the portrait depicted a stern, black-haired woman in a velvet gown.