| compound sentence |
| Definition:
A sentence that consists of two or more coordinate independent clauses. Note: These types of sentences are often connected by conjunctions. |
| Example:
The problem was interesting, but I could never find the answer.
In the above, both (1) The problem was interesting and (2) I could never find the answer are independent clauses — i.e., they can each stand on their own as sentences. |
| Oxford English Dictionary: The term's first OED citation is 1772: "…. We now proceed to compound sentences, wherein to avoid inaccuracy is required the greatest judgement and attention.…" (A. Bayly Gram. Eng. Lang. 80) |