syllable

plural syllables · alternative obsolete syllab · alternative obsolete syllabe

1. human sciencesA unit of human speech which often forms words corresponding to one opening of the mouth; a vowel and its surrounding consonants.

   I wanted to look up velleity and quotidian and memorize the fuckers for all time, spell them, learn them, pronounce them syllable by syllable—vocalize, phonate, utter the sounds, say the words for all they're worth.

   2007, Don DeLillo, Underworld: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Scribner Classics, →ISBN, page 543

2. The written representation of a given pronounced syllable.
3. A small part of a sentence or discourse; anything concise or short; a particle.

   In none of my travels did I ever meet him or learn a syllable of his whereabouts.

   1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 22

   2 more examples

   Then let them caſt backe their eyes vnto former generations of men, and marke what was done in the prime of the world. Seth, Enoch, Noah, Sem, Abraham, Iob, and the reſt that liued before any ſyllable of the law of God was written, did they not ſinne as much as wee doe in euery action not commanded?

   [1594], Richard Hooker, “The fourth Scripture proofe”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 3rd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book II, page 60

   Th'Archbyſhop Is the Kings hand, and tongue, and who dare ſpeak One ſyllable againſt him?

   1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 227, column 1

present singular third person syllables · participle present syllabling · participle past syllabled · past syllabled · alternative obsolete syllab · alternative obsolete syllabe

1. poetictransitiveTo utter in syllables.

   [A] thouſand fantaſies Begin to throng into my memorie Of calling ſhapes, and beckning ſhadows dire, And ayrie tongues, that ſyllable mens names On Sands, and Shoars, and deſert Wilderneſſes.

   Comus

   1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC, page 8