Tmesis
Splitting a word in half and inserting something in the middle — abso-bloody-lutely, un-freaking-believable.
Full definition of Tmesis →:: COMPARE ::
Classical tmesisvsExpletive infixation
The short answer
Classical tmesis pulls an existing compound apart. English infixation pushes a new word in. One is separation; the other is insertion — and only the second one is governed by stress placement.
Side by side
| Aspect | Classical tmesis | Expletive infixation |
|---|---|---|
| Operation | Separates | Inserts |
| Adds material | No | Yes |
| Governed by | Grammar | Stress |
| Language | Greek, Latin | English |
What each one means
Expletive infixation
The contrast above sets out how Expletive infixation differs from Tmesis on the points that actually matter.