Enclitic \En*clit"ic\ ([e^]n*kl[i^]t"[i^]k), Enclitical \En*clit"ic*al\ ([e^]n*kl[i^]t"[i^]*kal), a. [L. encliticus, Gr. 'egkli`tikos, fr. 'egkli`nein to incline; 'en in + kli`nein to bend. See {In}, and {Lean}, v. i.] (Gram.) Affixed; subjoined; -- said of a word or particle which leans back upon the preceding word so as to become a part of it, and to lose its own independent accent, generally varying also the accent of the preceding word.
Enclitic \En*clit"ic\, n. (Gram.) A word which is joined to another so closely as to lose its proper accent, as the pronoun thee in prithee (pray thee).