Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Nearby Entries
adjectives - 2 dictionary results

ad⋅jec⋅tive

  [aj-ik-tiv]
Use adjectives in a Sentence
–noun
1. Grammar. any member of a class of words that in many languages are distinguished in form, as partly in English by having comparative and superlative endings, or by functioning as modifiers of nouns, as good, wise, perfect.
–adjective
2. pertaining to or functioning as an adjective; adjectival: the adjective use of a noun.
3. not able to stand alone; dependent.
4. Law. concerning methods of enforcement of legal rights, as pleading and practice (opposed to substantive ).
5. (of dye colors) requiring a mordant or the like to render them permanent (opposed to substantive ).
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < LL adjectīvum, neut. of adjectīvus, equiv. to adject(us) attached, added, ptp. of ad(j)icere (ad- ad- + -jec-, comb. form of jac- throw + -tus ptp. suffix) + -īvus -ive

Related forms:
ad⋅jec⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To adjectives
ad·jec·tive   (āj'ĭk-tĭv)   
n.   Abbr. a. or adj.
  1. The part of speech that modifies a noun or other substantive by limiting, qualifying, or specifying and distinguished in English morphologically by one of several suffixes, such as -able, -ous, -er, and -est, or syntactically by position directly preceding a noun or nominal phrase.
  2. Any of the words belonging to this part of speech, such as white in the phrase a white house.
adj.  
  1. Adjectival: an adjective clause.
  2. Law Prescriptive; remedial: adjective law.
  3. Not standing alone; derivative or dependent.

[Middle English, from Old French adjectif, from Late Latin adiectīvus, from adiectus, past participle of adicere, to add to : ad-, ad- + iacere, to throw; see yē- in Indo-European roots.]
ad'jec·tive·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see adjectives on Thesaurus | Reference