n. [ L., fr. Gr. "yfe`n, fr. "yf "e`n under one, into one, together, fr. &unr_; under + &unr_;, neut. of &unr_; one. See Hypo-.] (Print.) A mark or short dash, thus [-], placed at the end of a line which terminates with a syllable of a word, the remainder of which is carried to the next line; or between the parts of many a compound word; as in fine-leaved, clear-headed. It is also sometimes used to separate the syllables of words. [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Hyphened p. pr. & vb. n. Hyphening. ] To connect with, or separate by, a hyphen, as two words or the parts of a word. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. United by hyphens; hyphened; as, a hyphenated or hyphened word. [ 1913 Webster ]

. An American who is referred to by a hyphenated term with the first word indicating an origin in a foreign country, and the second term being “American”, as Irish-American, Italian-American, African-American, Asian-American. Used in reference to Americans of foreign birth or ancestry. When used of Americans of European ancestry, it is often used to refer to those who have a strong attachment to the ancestral country or its culture. It implies that the individual is imperfectly assimilated into American culture, and is sometimes used derogatively. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]