| morpheme |
| Definition: In linguistics, the atomic unit of meaning (i.e., the smallest meaningful unit). Note: A morpheme is free if it can stand alone, and it is bound if it can't. Thus, for example, the word undone has two morphemes: the bound morpheme un and the free morpheme done. |
| Example: The ing in coming is a morpheme, but the g is not. |
| Etymology: It derives from the French morphème, which was coined from the Greek morphe, form or shape, based on an analogy with the previously existing word phonème. |
| Oxford English Dictionary: The word's first OED citation is from 1896: "The phonetic elements of a given word are its phonemes. But its significant elements, be they root, suffix, prefix, inflection or aught else, are morphemes." (R. J. Lloyd in Neueren Sprachen III. 615) |