syllabary
Meaning
A set of written characters representing all the syllables of a language.
A list or table of syllables.
Structure
Usage
The Japanese kana system is a well-known example of a syllabary.
Linguists studied the ancient script to determine if it was an alphabet or a syllabary.
The textbook included a syllabary of the language's basic sounds for pronunciation practice.
Etymology
The word 'syllabary' is a modern scholarly compound, formed in the 16th century from the Latin root syllaba and the adjectival suffix -ary. The Latin syllaba itself originates from the Greek syllabē, meaning 'that which is held together' or 'a taking together', derived from syn- (together) and lambanein (to take), conceptually describing how sounds are combined. Thus, a 'syllabary' is literally a collection or system 'pertaining to syllables', specifically denoting a writing system where each character represents a complete syllable rather than a single sound or an idea.
Analysis
- syllab: From Latin syllaba (syllable), from Greek syllabē (a taking together, a syllable). It functions as the core root denoting the unit of sound. - ary: From Latin -arius (adjective-forming suffix meaning 'pertaining to, connected with'). It functions as a suffix forming nouns denoting a place for, a collection of, or something connected with the root.