| bound morpheme |
| Definition -
A morpheme that cannot stand alone as a word. Note: A morpheme that CAN stand alone as a word is called a free morpheme. |
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Example - The word undone has two morphemes: (1) the bound morpheme un- and (2) the free morpheme done. |
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Oxford English Dictionary - The concept's first citation is from 1948: "If it is a bound form, the element must — in order to be a morpheme — be active." (Word Apr. 20) |
