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bounded form

[ˈbaʊndɪd fɔːrm]
nounpl: bounded forms
forma presa
1. In linguistics, a morpheme that cannot stand alone as a word and must be attached to another morpheme to form a word
The prefix 'un-' in 'unhappy' is a bounded form because it cannot exist independently as a word.
O prefixo 'un-' em 'unhappy' é uma forma presa porque não pode existir independentemente como uma palavra.
2. A linguistic unit that has meaning but requires combination with other forms to be used in speech or writing
The suffix '-ing' is a bounded form that must be attached to a verb stem.
O sufixo '-ing' é uma forma presa que deve ser anexada a um radical verbal.
Synonyms
bound morphemeaffixdependent morpheme
Antonyms
free formfree morphemeindependent word

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
forma presa
Standard usage in Brazilian Portuguese linguistics
Portugal
forma ligada
Common alternative term in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

bound by structure
morphologically dependent
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