Dictionary Definition
penult n : the next to last syllable in a word
[syn: penultima,
penultimate]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
- /ˈpinɐlt/
- /"pinVlt/
Noun
- The next-to-last syllable of a word.
- The next to the last in a series.
Extensive Definition
In linguistics, the penult is
the penultimate
syllable of a word;
that is, the second-to-last syllable. For example, the main stress
falls on the penult in such English words as banána, and
Mississíppi. The penult follows the antepenult and precedes the
ultimate syllable. These terms are used in the study of languages
in which the lexical
stress of a word changes considerably depending on the
case or declension of the word (e.g.
Ancient
Greek), and sometimes it is used in the discussion of lexical
stress of poetry.