transfix

1 to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe; "The snake charmer fascinates the cobra" [syn: fascinate, grip, spellbind]

2 pierce with a sharp stake or point; "impale a shrimp on a skewer" [syn: impale, empale, spike] [also: transfixt]

English

Pronunciation

Noun

1. A discontinuous affix, which occurs at more than one position in a word, typical of Semitic languages.

Verb

1. To render motionless, by arousing terror, amazement or awe.
2. To pierce with a sharp pointed weapon.
3. To fix or impale.

Translations

• Finnish: lävistää (2,3)

Related terms

• transfixation
• transfixion
• transfixture

In linguistic morphology, a transfix is a discontinuous affix, which occurs at more than one position in a word. The prototypical example comes from the Semitic languages, where nearly all word derivation and inflection involves the interdigitation of a discontinuous root with a discontinuous affix. For example, derivations and inflections of the Maltese discontinuous triliteral root |k-t-b| (to write) are shown below:

See also

• Nonconcatenative morphology
• Prefix
• Suffix
• Infix
• Circumfix
• Interfix
• Simulfix
• Suprafix
• Duplifix

References

auger, balance, ballast, bayonet, bewitch, bite, bore, broach, counterbalance, countersink, dagger, dirk, drill, electrify, empierce, enchant, engross, enrapture, ensorcel, fascinate, firm, firm up, fix, freeze, galvanize, gore, gouge, gouge out, hold, hole, honeycomb, hypnotize, immobilize, impale, keep, knife, lance, mesmerize, nail, nail down, needle, penetrate, perforate, pierce, pin, pin down, pink, plunge in, poniard, prick, punch, puncture, ream, ream out, retain, riddle, rivet, run through, saber, skewer, spear, spike, spit, stab, stabilitate, stabilize, steady, stick, stiletto, stun, sword, tap, transpierce, trepan, trephine