9
$\begingroup$

My start shortens round about
My ending settles doubt
My middle means combined with
My whole is always split

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2
  • $\begingroup$ Just a doubt, is it combined with or combine with? $\endgroup$ Apr 16, 2018 at 13:00
  • $\begingroup$ It is combined with. $\endgroup$
    – OnlyF
    Apr 16, 2018 at 13:06

1 Answer 1

10
$\begingroup$

I'll take a shot at this with

circumfix

My start shortens round about:

cir as abbreviation for circa

My middle means combined with:

cum, latin preposition of the intended meaning

My ending settles doubt:

fix in the meaning of to establish, to set definitely. (Thanks to OnlyF I delved deep into Merriam Webster's and rephrased that.)

My whole is always split:

staying in the theme, a circumfix always consists of two affixes, one placed at the start of a word, one at the end, so it's very literally split.

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5
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Nice one, you got them all first go :) Although there are more definitions of the ending which would make for a bit better fit, I think it's pretty much in the way you've written it down that it seems to not be such a good fit, to *** something can mean to rot13(gb frggyr qrsvavgryl, be chg vagb creznarag sbez), which settles doubt.. $\endgroup$
    – OnlyF
    Apr 16, 2018 at 15:08
  • $\begingroup$ Oh, I got it? Cool. - But if this is the correct answer, it should be marked as such. As far as I can see, it's not marked. Apart from my browser may be playing dumb: Did your mark not get registered, or do you mean that it's still not complete? $\endgroup$ Apr 16, 2018 at 15:21
  • $\begingroup$ No I was just leaving it for a bit in case you wanted to edit after my comment (not sure if you still can after accepting), but you'll get the tick soon in any case :) $\endgroup$
    – OnlyF
    Apr 16, 2018 at 15:49
  • $\begingroup$ Ah, OK. Well if you'd prefer that, I'll do. $\endgroup$ Apr 16, 2018 at 16:00
  • $\begingroup$ That was a nice one, thanks. I liked the hints, and the overall consistency of the theme helps a lot to establish a good feeling for whether an answer fits well or not. So while trying around, there was always a good certainty that I was not quite there yet. Once I had it, it satisfyingly snapped right into place. I like that. $\endgroup$ Apr 16, 2018 at 16:18

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