interlinear
UK[ˌɪntəˈlɪnɪə]US[ˌɪntərˈlɪniər]
adj
Written or printed between the lines of a text.
Morpheme Breakdown
inter
linear
inter
between
linear
of lines
Etymology
The word 'interlinear' is a modern English formation built from classical Latin components. The prefix 'inter-', meaning "between", is a direct borrowing from Latin, traceable to the Proto-Indo-European root enter, also meaning "between". The core element 'linear' derives from the Latin linea (a line, string), which itself evolved from linum (flax, thread), reflecting the concept of a linen thread used for measuring. Combined, these morphemes create a literal meaning of "between the lines", which perfectly describes the word's specific modern application to annotations or translations inserted in the spaces of a written text.
Analysis
Structure: inter (between) + linear (of lines)
- inter: From Latin inter, meaning "between, among". A prefix indicating position or relationship.
- linear: From Latin linearis, from linea ("line"). An adjective-forming suffix meaning "of or relating to lines".
Examples
The scholar used an interlinear translation to understand the ancient manuscript.
The book featured an interlinear gloss that explained the difficult vocabulary.
Interlinear notes can be very helpful for language learners studying a foreign text.