Adjective Definition
adjective
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English
Etymology
From Old French adjectif, from Latin adiectīvum, from ad (“next to”) + -iect-, perfect passive participle of iaciō (“throw”) + -īvus, adjective ending; hence, a word "thrown next to" a noun, modifying it.
Pronunciation
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Audio (US) (file)
Adjective
adjective (not generally comparable; )
- (obsolete) Incapable of independent function.
- 1899, John Jay Chapman, Emerson and Other Essays, AMS Press (1969) (as reproduced in Project Gutenberg)
- In fact, God is of not so much importance in Himself, but as the end towards which man tends. That irreverent person who said that Browning uses “God” as a pigment made an accurate criticism of his theology. In Browning, God is adjective to man.
- 1899, John Jay Chapman, Emerson and Other Essays, AMS Press (1969) (as reproduced in Project Gutenberg)
- (grammar) Adjectival; pertaining to or functioning as an adjective.
- (law) Applying to methods of enforcement and rules of procedure.
- adjective law
- (chemistry) Of a dye that needs the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.
Synonyms
- (incapable of independent function): dependent, derivative
- (functioning as an adjective): adjectival
- (applying to methods of enforcement and rules of procedure): procedural
Antonyms
- (applying to methods of enforcement and rules of procedure): substantive
- (of a dye that needs the use of a mordant): substantive
Derived terms
- adjectival
- adjective clause
- adjective phrase
- adjective patterns
- proper adjective
Noun
Wikipedia has an article on: AdjectiveWikipedia adjective (plural adjectives)
- (grammar) A word that modifies a noun or describes a noun’s referent.
- The words “big” and “heavy” are English adjectives.
Hyponyms
- See also Wikisaurus:adjective
Translations
(grammar) a word that modifies a noun or describes a noun’s referent
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French
Adjective
adjective f.
- feminine form of adjectif
Interlingue
Noun
adjective
Romanian
Pronunciation
- IPA: [ad.ʒekˈti.ve]
Noun
adjective n. pl.
- Plural form of adjectiv.
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Adjectives are one of the traditional eight English parts of speech, though linguists today distinguish adjectives from words such as determiners that were formerly considered to be adjectives. In this paragraph, "traditional" is an adjective, and in the preceding paragraph, "main" and "more" are.
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