Final answer:
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A word, in linguistics, is the smallest Lexical Unit. A free form that can stand on its own without having to be attached to any other Lexical Unit.
Step-by-step explanation:
A word, in linguistics, is the smallest lexicon or meaning-bearing unit of a language. When we talk about words as free forms that can stand on their own without having to be attached to any other forms, we're referring to their status as independent units of language. Therefore, in this context, the correct answer to the question, 'A word, in linguistics, is the smallest _______________. A free form that can stand on its own without having to be attached to any other ___________.' would be d. Lexical Unit.
Words are built from phonemes, which are the fundamental sounds of a language, and these phonemes are combined to create morphemes. Morphemes are the smallest units of language that have meaning. Language is constructed through semantics, which is the process by which we derive meaning from morphemes and words, and through syntax, which refers to the organization of words into sentences.