An adjective used in linguistics to describe a phrase or compound whose meaning is not directly derivable from the meanings of its individual parts. The meaning of an exocentric construction exists outside the explicit combination of its components. The relationship is not one of subject-modifier. These phrases often possess a meaning unique and independent from their constituents. Understanding the full meaning requires an understanding of context and implied relations.
Exocentric meaning with examples
- The phrase "red herring" is exocentric. While "red" and "herring" have individual meanings, the phrase signifies a distracting piece of information, a meaning not inherently present within its individual parts. It requires knowledge of the idiom to understand the intended meaning within conversation.
- "Pickpocket" represents an exocentric compound. It is not merely someone who picks a pocket but implies the act of stealing from pockets. The meaning is not a sum of the parts; instead, a relationship is implied. The context is not the objects themselves but a process.
- "Under the table" as used in the phrase "bribery under the table" is an exocentric prepositional phrase. It does not refer to a physical location in the traditional sense but symbolizes clandestine, hidden activities. The intended meaning is not a straightforward location.
- "The White House" as a term for the US President’s office is an exocentric example. The phrase goes beyond the literal building to represent the office and its occupants, with the meaning residing in the implied authority, rather than the architecture.