stem (n.)

A term often used in LINGUISTICS as part of a classification of the kinds of ELEMENTS operating within the structure of a WORD. The stem may consist solely of a single root morpheme (i.e. a ‘simple’ stem, as in man), or of two ROOT MORPHEMES (e.g. a ‘compound’ stem, as in blackbird), or of a root morpheme plus a DERIVATIONAL AFFIX (i.e. a ‘complex’ stem, as in manly, unmanly, manliness). All have in common the notion that it is to the stem that inflectional affixes are attached.